Drone technology has come a long way in just a few years. People have come to use them in all manners of ways.
This has led to the advent of drone drops at prisons. Federal agencies take steps against them, but many people may not realize that they are illegal.
How do drone drops work?
Wired discusses drone drops at local prisons. How do drone drops happen?
When engaging in a drone drop, a person will typically send an unregistered drone into the air space over a prison in order to deliver things to inmates. Many think of it as a way to provide their friends or family with luxuries from “the outside,” but it is important to remember that items sent to inmates must go through a screening process first.
Some drone drops have worked because jails were not built to handle interference by air, and many do not have the equipment or surveillance needed to catch inbound drones before they get through security.
Can you get in trouble for it?
This issue has garnered more attention from prison security and the media alike, and more prisons have begun to crack down on it. While there is no specific law or laws addressing flying drones into prison spaces yet, this will likely change in the future. In addition, if the drone is carrying an item, that may increase the likelihood of charges.
This does not mean that a person will face no repercussions whatsoever for the act of flying a drone into prison grounds, however. Currently, prosecutors may pursue a case through a mishmash of various other laws, which can still result in hefty penalties for anyone convicted, like jail time or rather large fines.
Flying a drone is not illegal in and of itself in most areas. However, it is important to take any drone drop charges seriously and build a strong defense.
