As states and municipalities lose right to regulate drone
flight, their focus is likely to shift to requiring third party
insurance coverage
The continually expanding number of drones being used for
recreational and commercial purposes has caused state and municipal
regulators in the United States to enact or consider myriad
legislative responses to address the risk of accidents and
invasions of privacy. To date, most of the laws passed or
considered have focused on operational restrictions or registration
requirements. The validity of those laws are in serious jeopardy,
however, due to a recent decision of a federal district court in
Massachusetts.
Singer v. Newton involved a challenge to a municipal ordinance
that effectively banned drone flights over the city without
property owners' prior permission and also imposed visual line
of sight requirements. On September 21, the district court issued a
landmark decision striking down the ordinance and holding
