and in fact was the first state to impose 2 yr moratorium on those drones. Gov. McDonnell amended the legislation which was adopted by both the House and the Senate..
From Times Dispatch: (http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/general-assembly/mcdonnell-seeks-changes-on-texting-drone-bills/article_8faadfbc-9591-11e2-acf9-0019bb30f31a.html)
Following is the excerpt of the pertinent information...
McDonnell also is seeking to amend legislation that would place a moratorium on the use of drones.
The amendments "would allow the use of this technology for certain law enforcement operations such as the search or rescue of missing persons or in cases involving imminent danger to any person," the governor's office said.
"This will allow law enforcement officials to use this developing technology to protect public safety while respecting individual rights of citizens and their expectation of privacy."
The amendments also seek to clarify that the legislation does not apply to institutions of higher education or other entities engaged in research and development of drone and related technology.
Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, who introduced one of the bills to impose a two-year moratorium on drone use, said Monday night that "at a glance ... none of this sounds objectionable, but I have to take a look at the precise language."
Gilbert said the legislation never affected educational or commercial research of drones, which the governor's amendments would protect, but only law enforcement and institutional use of the technology.
"I don't believe that anybody disagrees that going forward this technology will be useful in saving lives in certain, limited circumstances," he said. "We just want to make sure there isn't a loophole that treads on the privacy rights we are concerned about."
This year's General Assembly sent McDonnell 812 bills. The legislature will reconvene April 3 to consider his proposed amendments and vetoes.
House of Delegates Clerk G. Paul Nardo said he hopes to have all McDonnell's actions posted on the General Assembly's Legislative Information System by 3 p.m. today for public inspection.
