State Sets Up Task Force To Recommend Drone Rules
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Drones could be one of the popular Christmas gifts this year, state officials have begun taking steps to figure out how to deal with all the issues that could arise.
The Illinois General Assembly has approved legislation establishing the Unmanned Aerial System Oversight Task Force, and Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed 18 people to the panel.
Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski was among those named to the task force, representing the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Kaminski said he's concerned about drones possibly interfering with commercial aviation, invading people's privacy, and being used by criminals to shoot at people.
"Can you imagine looking out your window and there's a drone there? I mean, it has a whole area that we've got to look at for privacy, and how do we investigate these things?" he said.
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Kaminski also wondered about skies becoming crowded with drones.
"What happens when they collide and fall? If something happens, are we required to take reports? Who's responsible for damages?" he said.
Illinois Conservation Police Sgt. Eric Rollins, another task force member, said there's a need to prohibit the use of drones to harass wildlife, hunters, and park visitors.
"A lot of our visitors are coming out to enjoy nature. They're not going to want to see a lot of drones buzzing around their heads," he said. "We see the aspect from drone use as well, as being able to take pictures of stuff that they would not have been able to do before."
Rollins said the state already has received complaints from some people, and questions from others.
The drone task force has been ordered to write a report with recommendations for the governor and the state legislature by July 1, 2016.
Members of the drone task force include:
• Steve Young, Illinois Department of Transportation - Division of Aeronautics
• Brian Miller, Illinois State Police
• Eric Rollins, Illinois Conservation Police
• Chuck Cawley, Illinois Department of Agriculture
• Christine Dudley, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Ron Tremain, INSITU Inc. – a Boeing Company
• Cameron Eugenis, Illinois Attorney General
• Troy Williams, Illinois Conservation Police Lodge
• Scotty Bryant, Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources
• Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau
• Tom Collins, Collins Engineers
• Linda Rhodes, ComEd
• Lt. Col Clarence Pulcher, Illinois National Guard
• Alec Laird, Illinois Retail Merchants Association
• Brian Young, Archer Daniels Midland
• Eric Vanasdale, Country Financial
• Chief Frank Kaminski, City of Park Ridge
• Joseph Ciaccio, Illinois Railroad Association
