Back to Wyoming

HB0128 • 2022

Trespass by drone.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of trespass by drone; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Crime
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Sommers
Last action
2022-02-18
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was never introduced in the legislature, so its provisions were not enacted.

Law Against Trespassing with Drones

The bill creates a new law that makes it illegal to fly a drone less than 200 feet over someone else's private land or home without permission, and sets penalties for breaking this rule.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the crime of criminal trespass by drone.
  • Defines a drone as an unmanned aircraft under 55 pounds on takeoff.
  • Makes it illegal to fly a drone less than 200 feet over private land or homes without permission from the owner or resident.
  • Sets penalties for breaking this law, including up to six months in jail and/or a fine of $750.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own drones
  • Owners and residents of private property

Terms To Know

Drone
An unmanned aircraft weighing less than fifty-five (55) pounds on takeoff.
Criminal Trespass by Drone
The act of flying a drone under 200 feet over private land or homes without permission from the owner or resident.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass and was never introduced in the legislature.
  • It does not specify what happens if someone gets permission to fly a drone over private property.
  • The penalties only apply for flying under 200 feet; higher altitudes are not covered by this law.

Bill History

  1. 2022-02-18 House

    H Did not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2022-02-15 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2022-02-15 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
22LSO-0444
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0444
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0128

Trespass by drone.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Sommers, Neiman and Stith and Senator(s) Driskill

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of trespass by drone; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
308 is created to read:

6
‑
3
‑
308.

Criminal trespass by drone; penalties.

(a)

Except as otherwise permitted by law, a person is guilty of criminal trespass by drone if he causes a drone to fly two hundred (200) feet or lower over the private
land or residence of another person without authorization by the land owner or resident or pursuant to a court order. For purposes of this section "drone" means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than fifty
‑
five (55) pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.

(b)

Criminal trespass by drone is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2022
.

(END)

1
HB0128