Dem warns against risks of commercial drones

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) has introduced a bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to research the risks posed by small to medium-sized commercial drones.

Watson Coleman cited the January incident at the White House when a drone landed on the grounds around 3 a.m. A Secret Service investigation later found that the federal employee flying the drone had been drinking.

French authorities also detected unexplained drones over two nuclear power plants late last year.

{mosads}”Drones have the potential for so much good, but like most technology there’s significant risk that they will be used for harm,” Watson Coleman said in a statement. “Incidents like these demonstrate the risk posed by these devices and should add urgency to our response.”

The New Jersey Democrat’s legislation would further establish DHS as the lead federal department for developing policy guidance for preventing drone attacks.

Watson Coleman serves as the top Democrat on the Oversight and Management Efficiency subcommittee of the House Homeland Security panel.