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Albany County considers banning radio-controlled drones

Dec 09, 2015 12:03 am
Jordan Carleo-Evangelist in the Albany Times-Union reports that Albany County may prohibit all radio-controlled flying machines. The county holds a public hearing Dec. 8, and currently has lawyers checking the legality of such a ban. Democratic Majority Leader Frank Commisso, the law's sponsor, said the bill probably won't get a vote in the Albany legislature until next month. Other bills focus just on radio-controlled drones. Last February the Troy City Council tabled proposed drone regulations. State Assembly Minority Brian Kolb last week introduced a bill in the state legislature that would bar drone flight above 400 feet, and around some specific locations. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to require drones to be equipped with "geo-fencing" software, blocking them from certain locations. "If the law passes and there is a ban put into place against all [radio-controlled] air vehicles, it could potentially close this store down," said Darrin Nash, a radio-control device tech at Hobbytown USA on Central Avenue in Colonie. The public hearing is at 7:15 p.m., Dec. 8 at Albany County Courthouse at 16 Eagle St. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.