SB954: Drone; willfully impeding hunting, Class 3 misdemeanor.

SENATE BILL NO. 954

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 7, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact 29.1-521.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to willfully impeding hunting; unmanned aerial vehicles.
Patron-- Ruff

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That 29.1-521.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

29.1-521.1. Willfully impeding hunting or trapping; penalty.

A. It is unlawful to willfully and intentionally impede the lawful hunting or trapping of wild birds or wild animals. Impeding hunting shall include utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, for the sole purpose of monitoring and photographing persons who are lawfully hunting on private land if done by a private person who does not have the permission of the landowner.

B. It is unlawful for any person or his agent to knowingly and intentionally facilitate or attempt to cause a violation of subdivision A 4 of 29.1-521 by putting out bait or salt for any wildlife in any place used or occupied by hunters to hunt wild birds or wild animals.

C. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.