§ 19-13-503 — Unlawful operation of unmanned aircraft systems over critical infrastructure and systems prohibited; permitted actions by law enforcement

Wyoming § 19-13-503

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 19: Defense Forces and Affairs
• Ch. 13: WYOMING OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• Art. 5: PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Text

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section,
no person shall operate or use an unmanned aircraft system over
or near critical infrastructure or a critical system:
(i) To intentionally photograph critical
infrastructure or a critical system;
(ii) To intentionally loiter over or near critical
infrastructure or a critical system;
(iii) In furtherance of any other criminal offense.
(b) Unless otherwise authorized by law, no person shall
operate or use an unmanned aircraft system or model aircraft
that is carrying, contains or is an explosive device over or
near critical infrastructure or a critical system. This
subsection shall not apply to law enforcement and the military
while acting in the course of their lawful duties.
(c) This section shall not apply to:
(i) A person authorized by the federal aviation
administration to operate or use an unmanned aircraft system if
the person's operation or use complies with the authorization
granted or with rules promulgated by the federal aviation
administration;
(ii) A governmental entity's use of an unmanned
aircraft system owned by the governmental entity;
(iii) The use of an unmanned aircraft system by the
owner or the owner's agent of critical infrastructure or a
critical system on or near the owner's critical infrastructure
or critical system;
(iv) The use of an unmanned aircraft system 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;
(v) The use of an unmanned aircraft system by a
private landowner on property owned by the private landowner.
(d) A person who violates subsection (a) or (b) of this
section is guilty of:
(i) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not to
exceed six (6) months, a fine not to exceed two thousand five
hundred dollars ($2,500.00), or both, for a first offense;
(ii) A felony punishable by imprisonment not to
exceed two (2) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars
($5,000.00), or both, for a second or subsequent offense.
(e) A peace officer or law enforcement official may take
or authorize the use of reasonable actions to prevent or stop
the use of unmanned aircraft systems or model aircrafts
operating in violation of this section. For purposes of this
subsection, reasonable actions may include disabling, damaging
or removing the unmanned aircraft system or model aircraft from
the prohibited location.
(f) The governor may order the national guard of Wyoming
to assist in taking or using reasonable actions to prevent or
stop the use of unmanned aircraft systems or model aircrafts
operating in violation of this section, in accordance with W.S.