Bills Make it a Crime to Fly Drones Near a Prison

Flying a drone near a prison in Michigan would be illegal, under legislation sent to the full Senate.

The bills would prohibit flying a drone within 1,000 feet of any correctional facility in the state.

Violators could be charged with a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a maximum fine of $2,000.

State Senator Darwin Booher is sponsoring the bills.

He says he was prompted to introduce the legislation after hearing about problems in other states where drones were used to smuggle contraband into prisons.

The two bill package recently passed a Senate committee.