RICHMOND — During the month of December, the Virginia Fusion Center (VFC), located within the Homeland Security Division of the Virginia State Police, has received more than 150 tips regarding drone activity in the Commonwealth.
This comes following reports of suspicious drones flying in other areas of the country, including in New Jersey.
According to Virginia State Police (VSP), all of the tips are being investigated and shared with key stakeholders.
Law enforcement is encouraging citizens to contact the Virginia Fusion Center at vfc@vfc.vsp.virginia.gov, if they see drones acting suspiciously.
“We encourage anyone that witnesses a drone flying over critical infrastructure, such as energy installations, or military sites, to contact the Virginia Fusion Center,” said Virginia State Police Special Agent D. Robinson. “This will enable us to work with our partners to determine exactly what is occurring, and how to move forward.”
According to VSP, drones are required to remain in sight of either the operator or a visual observer and have a maximum allowable altitude of 400 feet unless waived by federal regulators. Operators are required to have a remote pilot certificate for recreational use or a license from the FAA for commercial use. Learn more about the rules and regulations at Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Federal Aviation Administration.
VSP notes it is against the law to shoot at a drone. Airspace is governed by the Federal Government. State Law prohibits flying drones within 50 feet of a residence unless the person is authorized by the federal government to operate and is doing so lawfully and consistent with federal regulations.
The Virginia Fusion Center Shield Program has released additional information on drones available at All Sectors Bulletin — UAV Assessment. All information bulletins distributed by the VFC Shield are public and are intended to be shared. VSP encourages the public to sign up for this free outreach program by visiting fusion.vsp.virginia.gov/
