California Passes 400-Foot Drone Restriction for Concerts, Raising FAA Preemption Questions

Aviation policy and regulation attorney Katie Inman was interviewed for a DroneLife article reviewing a proposed California law that would prohibit unauthorized drone flights within 400 feet of large outdoor entertainment venues and amusement parks. The article described Assembly Bill (AB) 2113's public safety and intellectual property protection objectives, along with legal questions about whether state drone restrictions could conflict with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) authority over national airspace. Katie explained that although the FAA has broad authority, state and local governments may have some ability to regulate drone activity depending on the purpose of the law, such as addressing trespass, privacy or public safety concerns.

"I think folks were confused for a long time. They thought, 'Oh if it's in the air, then only FAA is allowed to regulate,' and that's not so much the case anymore," she said. "It's a little murkier than it used to be. It's not a clear line."

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