Current through the 2024 legislative session
Section 6-5-214 - Unmanned aircraft systems and correctional institutions; definitions; penalties(a) As used in this section:(i) "Contraband" means as defined in W.S. 6-5-213(c)(i); (ii) "Penal institution or correctional facility" means as defined in W.S. 6-5-213(c)(ii); (iii) "Unmanned aircraft system":(A) Means an unmanned, powered aircraft that: (I) Does not carry a human operator;(II) Can be autonomous or remotely piloted or operated; and(III) Can be expendable or recoverable.(B) Does not include:(I) A satellite orbiting the earth;(II) An unmanned aircraft system used by the United States Government or a person who is acting pursuant to a contract with the United States Government;(III) An unmanned aircraft system used by the state for purposes of state business;(IV) An unmanned aircraft system used by a law enforcement agency, emergency medical service agency, hazardous materials response team, disaster management agency, or other emergency management agency for the purpose of incident command, area reconnaissance, personnel and equipment deployment monitoring, training, or a related purpose.(b) Except as authorized by a person in charge of the penal institution or correctional facility, no person shall intentionally trespass over or in a penal institution or on the grounds of a penal institution with an unmanned aircraft system to:(i) Photograph, surveil, broadcast or otherwise record a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system;(ii) Convey or attempt to convey contraband into a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system; or(iii) Deliver or attempt to deliver a deadly weapon into a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system.(c) Any person who violates paragraphs (b)(i) or (ii) of this section is guilty of misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or both. Any person who violates paragraph (b)(iii) of this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both.(d) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system under one (1) or more of the exclusions specified in subdivisions (a)(iii)(B)(II) through (IV) of this section shall provide reasonable notice of the intended use of the unmanned aircraft system at the penal institution or correctional facility to the person in charge of the institution or facility.(e) The person in charge of a penal institution or correctional facility may take or authorize the use of reasonable actions to prevent or stop the use of unmanned aircraft systems operating in violation of this section consistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of corrections pursuant to W.S. W.S. 25-1-105(h).Added by Laws 2023, ch. 131,§ 1, eff. 2/28/2023.