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La Plata County approves drone policy

Emergency management purchases 3 devices
Tom McNamara, with the Office of Emergency Management, flies the department’s new drone in December north of Durango as Emergency Management Director Butch Knowlton observes.

A policy regulating La Plata County’s use of drones was unanimously approved Tuesday by commissioners, opening the way for the county to use the devices for rescue missions and other uses.

Recently, the county purchased three drones to help with emergency missions, such as locating missing persons, searching for evidence in law enforcement operations or scoping floodplains and wildfire areas.

The new program is run by La Plata County Emergency Management, though other departments can propose projects and become certified to use the equipment.

Under the new policy, the county must adhere to regulations respecting the privacy of private property owners, just as commercial drone operators are required to do.

The county also must provide public notice and a hearing whenever possible – with the exception of emergency missions that cannot wait – before a drone operation.

“We want to save lives, property and money,” Tom McNamara, county emergency management coordinator, said in a previous interview. McNamara oversees the county’s drone program, and he is certified to operate the devices.

The new policy can be viewed on the La Plata County website at co.laplata.co.us.

jpace@durangoherald.com

Jan 3, 2017
La Plata County drone policy discussions begin
Dec 4, 2016
La Plata County officials see myriad of uses for recently-purchased drones


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