§ 4625. Correctional facilities; use of drones prohibited; civil penalty

(a) A person shall not knowingly operate a drone over a correctional facility or surrounding property that is readily recognizable to a reasonable person as being correctional facility property or is reasonably identified as such by fencing or appropriate signs.

(b) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $500.00.

(c)(1) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the use of a drone by:

(A) the Department of Corrections;

(B) a person operating a drone with the written consent of the correctional facility's supervising officer; or

(C) a person operating a drone that is being used for a commercial purpose, if the person is operating in compliance with any authorization, rule, or exemption granted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(2) With prior notice to the correctional facility, subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the use of a drone by:

(A) the Department of Buildings and General Services or its contractors working on behalf of the Department;

(B) a law enforcement agency; or

(C) a public safety agency responding to an emergency or a person engaged in emergency functions or emergency management pursuant to chapter 1 of this title (emergency management).