ST. LOUIS — After community action, the St. Louis Board of Alderman is taking up a bill regarding drone use in the city limits.
This comes after a private company said it will use drones for surveillance of the Gravois Park neighborhood, citing crime issues as its main concern.
SMS Novel Films CEO Jomo Johnson sent a strongly worded letter to the City of St. Louis regarding the cease-and-desist letter sent earlier this week. He wrote that SMS Novel FIlms has every right to film over the neighborhood and will take legal action if the city continues to fight its efforts.
Gravois Park residents said they do not want the company surveilling their neighborhood and even started a petition against their proposal.
“Categorically across the board, people don't want this,” resident Jacob Lyonfields said. "They don't want to be relying on for-profit, unaccountable drone surveillance technology in Gravois Park. We want something different, and we want this guy to go away."
Lyonfields said in a statement Thursday:
“The Gravois Park residents leading the neighborhood petition against Mr. Johnson’s drone surveillance scheme would like to point out that even if there was no cease-and-desist letter, Mr. Johnson would still not be legally allowed to sell his “services” to St. Louisans without a valid business license, which he has not obtained. Additionally, Mr. Johnson is stoking fear in Gravois Park residents who are anxiously wondering whether they’re going to wake up on January 29th to privately owned drones taking footage of their children, hovering outside their bedroom windows, and flying over their backyards. We have confidence that Mayor Jones’ administration and federal authorities will protect us from this con man seemingly determined to break our laws.”
The petition also called on elected officials to strengthen city drone laws.
Alderperson Alisha Sonnier is now taking action with Board Bill 199, which requires “people operating drones in St. Louis for commercial purposes to have a drone license and business license in St. Louis.”
The bill also said, “No person, entity or state agency shall use a drone to conduct surveillance or observation of any individual or privately owned property without the express written consent of that individual or property owner.”
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, local governments can prohibit take-off and landing in certain areas, but the FAA has sole authority over the skies and is the only one who can restrict airspace.
That's what the CEO of SMS Novel Films pointed out in a letter, saying he would take legal action against the city if it did not rescind its cease-and-desist order.
Alderman Shane Cohn, who also represents the Gravois Park neighborhood, said in a statement:
“I have not been consulted or in contact with this private entity. As this story evolves, so does his story. He has not actively engaged with neighbors on their ideas or concerns. Nor has he engaged with city officials or departments to operate with a proper license or permit. A private entity charging citizens to utilize/watch vigilante drone footage is ridiculous and does nothing to deter crime, and only sacrifices citizen’s liberty at the hand of ill-fated security measures.”
The St. Louis Board of Alderman is scheduled to take up the bill during its session on Friday.
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