HB Media Minute

HB Media Minute Episode 28: Texas Drone Law Held Unconstitutional

June 24, 2022 Haynes and Boone, LLP Season 1 Episode 28
HB Media Minute
HB Media Minute Episode 28: Texas Drone Law Held Unconstitutional
Show Notes

Haynes Boone Associate Michael Lambert appears on HB Media Minute to discuss the media’s increasing use of drones in news coverage and how drone usage might be impacted by a recent federal court ruling that Texas’ restrictive drone law is unconstitutional. Michael explained the Texas law at issue, which imposed civil and criminal penalties for the use of drones for certain purposes, such as to capture images of an individual or privately owned property with “the intent to conduct surveillance.” Michael analyzed why Texas federal judge Robert Pitman declared the law unconstitutional and how that ruling, which was issued in March 2022 and is currently on appeal, could provide Texas journalists great latitude to use drones. However the case is resolved, Michael explains, drone users still need to abide by federal laws and other regulations and other restrictions governing drone flights.