Flying a drone near a prison can land you behind bars

A new law now makes it illegal to fly drones near prisons.

The unmanned aircraft are sometimes used to pass drugs, tobacco and cellphones to inmates.

The law, which prohibits flying drones within 250 feet above and 500 feet around a prison, went into effect Friday. It was approved by N.C. lawmakers in July.

People who use the unmanned aircraft to drop contraband onto prison grounds can be charged with a felony. Those who simply fly a drone in the prohibited area can be charged with a misdemeanor, under the law.

“Unfortunately, there are those who want to use this technology for nefarious purposes rather than its intended use,” said Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks. “This law provides us with an additional tool to help keep contraband out of correctional facilities, which in turn helps with maintaining safety and security.”

North Carolina has had at least two cases in which drones crashed into prison fences. Both took place in 2015, and in both cases, staff members recovered the contraband before inmates could retrieve it.

“We have heard of incidents in other states where drones have successfully delivered contraband to inmates,” said Kenneth Lassiter, Director of Prisons. “We are hopeful that the new law will serve as a deterrent as we will push for prosecuting violators to the fullest extent should it become necessary.”

The new law also prohibits model aircraft from flying near correctional facilities, though it includes exemptions for law enforcement and emergency management staff.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Flying a drone near a prison can land you behind bars."