North Dakota Sheriff Jealous of Super Bowl’s Drone Usage at Night
A North Dakota sheriff is upset the Super Bowl was given clearance to fly drones at night when law enforcement in North Dakota is not yet allowed to do so.
In an article published today by the Brainerd Dispatch, Grand Forks sheriff Bob Rost expressed his discontent with the FAA giving clearance to the Super Bowl to fly drones at night on such short notice while North Dakota law enforcement is still waiting for approval.
From the Brainerd Dispatch:
The unit has permission from the FAA to operate drones at night for three years in 18 counties in northeast North Dakota, though Rost said his department may be called to other parts of the country to assist agencies that may need drone support.
He gave the Dakota Access Pipeline protests as an example. The department was called to help, but it could not fly drones at night in central North Dakota.
Rost said his department has contacted the FAA numerous times but has not heard a response regarding the request.
As we've mentioned in the past, North Dakota has attempted to establish itself as the forefront of the drone industry.
North Dakota is home to the Northern Plains UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Test Site, the largest test site of its kind in the United States.
But North Dakota took things even one step further back in 2015 becoming the first state to pass legislation legalizing armed drones. North Dakota is serious when it comes to its law enforcement's drone usage.
“We’re talking a public safety issue versus a show,” Rost told the Brainerd Dispatch. “It is hard for me to comprehend how public safety could be perceived as less important than the entertainment industry.”
There's no word yet on if the FAA plans to expedite a decision as to whether or not to allow law enforcement in North Dakota to fly drones at night.