What Would Happen If Drones Mysteriously Appeared In the Sky Over Oklahoma?

UPDATE, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 2024: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has directed the state to implement measures aimed at monitoring drones/unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). According to an article from Oklahoma City's News 9, there have been mysterious drone sightings across the United States, including Oklahoma.

On Monday, Dec. 16, Governor Stitt announced that he his directed Oklahoma's Commissioner of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Tim Tipton, to "immediately procure mobile counter-UAS detection systems to support state and local law enforcement in responding to recent UAS activity."

“Drones and unmanned aerial systems are an exciting new industry here in Oklahoma, and we want to make sure that industry has room to thrive,” Governor Stitt said. “This technology is new, and because of that, we don’t have all the measures in place to ensure Oklahomans are protected from those who would use this technology to harm others. That’s why I’ve instructed Commissioner Tipton to invest in UAS detection systems. This will ensure that drones can operate safely while law enforcement can keep Oklahomans safe."

Governor Stitt's announcement also noted that "federal law generally prohibits  disabling or destroying any UAS because federal rules consider drones to be a form of aircraft. This prevents even state and local law enforcement from any activity that would interfere with the flight of a drone, including shooting it down."

According to the announcement, the use of UAS detection systems will allow Oklahoma law enforcement and Department of Public Safety to "monitor and identify UAS without destroying them and ensure that Oklahoma's critical infrastructure is protected."

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Residents on the East Coast and in other areas of the United States are sounding the alarm over mysterious drones overtaking the sky. Since Thanksgiving, there have been reports of unknown drones flying through the sky in multiple states. And as of Dec. 16, there is still no clear answer as to why these drones are appearing.

According to an article from the Associated Press, the drone sightings began in New Jersey this November, and over the past couple of days have been spotted in other areas across the East Coast.

Local representatives are pleading for answers from government officials, but during a call over the weekend, senior officials with the FBI, Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies assured that the drones are not a national security threat or a threat to public safety.

Some arrests of drone operators were conducted Saturday in Boston because the drones were flown "dangerously close" to Logan Airport. Base officials at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio closed the airspace for nearly four hours Friday into early Saturday due to drones flying too close to the base. Drones were spotted over New York City, which requires a permit to fly drones, and caused the shut down of runways at Stewart International Airport.

@cbsmornings Thousands of drone sightings have been reported across six East Coast states, with some flying over sensitive locations like a naval weapons station and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, prompting FAA flight restrictions. While officials suggest many sightings may be manned aircraft, politicians are calling for federal action to identify the drones and ensure public safety. #drones #newjersey #news #sightings #eastcoast ♬ original sound - CBS Mornings

What would happen if mysterious drones appeared in the sky above Oklahoma?

Like other states, drones are used in Oklahoma by hobbyist, realtors and even farmers. So it's not uncommon to see a drone every once in a while in Oklahoma. But what if a dozen or more drones began appearing in the sky above Oklahoma?

To operate a drone in Oklahoma, people must follow the federal regulations and two state regulations, which includes not operating in airspace within 400 feet of critical infrastructure and not operating in airspace over private property without consent.

When it comes to the definition of critical infrastructure in Oklahoma, the state law includes the definition of an area "completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs that are posted on the property, are reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, and indicate that entry is forbidden or flight of unmanned aircraft without site authorization is forbidden."

Oklahoma's laws do not outline what can specifically be done if a rogue drone was spotted above private property or an area of critical infrastructure in Oklahoma, but Oklahomans may be more apt to take it into their own hands rather than rely on local officials.

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