Section 13A-7-91 - Operation of unmanned aircraft systems; penalties(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not: (1) Operate an unmanned aircraft system within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or a vertical distance of 200 feet from a facility; or(2) Operate an unmanned aircraft system to conduct surveillance of or photograph or otherwise record images of a facility.(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the use of an unmanned aircraft system by: (1) The Alabama Department of Corrections;(2) A person authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is operating the system in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations;(3) The Armed Forces of the United States of America;(4) The Alabama National Guard; or(5) Any of the following with prior written permission from the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections:a. A contractor working on behalf of the Department of Corrections;b. Any state or federal law enforcement agency or public safety agency responding to an emergency;c. A person engaged in official emergency functions or emergency management; ord. Any state or federal public utility.(c) A violation of this section is a Class C felony and a person violating this section shall be fined no less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). The sentence shall include a mandatory sentence, which is not subject to suspension or probation, of imprisonment in the Department of Corrections or county jail for not less than 30 days.Ala. Code § 13A-7-91 (1975)
Added by Act 2024-222,§ 2, eff. 6/1/2024.