Lawmakers seek penalties on using drones to invade privacy

Colorado lawmakers want to criminalize the use of drones when they’re used to monitor someone without their consent.

The proposal up for a House committee vote Tuesday would make it a crime of first-degree trespassing to take images of someone when they have an expectation of privacy. Drone users could also be charged with harassment if they use the technology to monitor someone’s movements.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says a handful of states have passed laws creating penalties for the use of drones to invade someone’s privacy.

A half-dozen states have also passed limits and guidelines on how law enforcement use drones, but a Colorado bill to limit government use of drones failed last month in the Senate.