HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Gerald Mullery on March 15 introduced legislation that would prohibit individuals and organizations from using drones to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing and boating activities.

House Bill 1896 would make it a punishable offense to use a drone to interfere with someone engaging in the lawful taking of wildlife or other permitted activities.

Mullery said that while some drone operators claim they are operating them to spot illegal activities, many times they are disrupting a law-abiding citizen’s leisure time, whether they are hunting, fishing, or boating.

“The reality is that operating drones in this matter is becoming an overwhelming nuisance,” said Mullery. “Many of these folks enjoying the great outdoors of Pennsylvania are doing so legally, and they shouldn’t be disturbed by someone using a drone who thinks there may be illegal activity going on.”