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HR 4911 114th Congress House

Drone Operator Safety Act

Official title: To impose criminal penalties for the unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft.

Introduced: April 12, 2016 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Aviation and airportsTransportation safety and security
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Apr 13, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Apr 12, 2016
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 12, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 28, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Drone Operator Safety Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to operate an unmanned aircraft (i.e., drone) that knowingly or recklessly interferes with or disrupts the operation of an aircraft carrying one or more occupants in U.S. airspace.

The prohibition includes the operation of an unmanned aircraft within the runway exclusion zone (i.e., defined area of controlled airspace around an active runway) of an airport without approval.

A violator is subject to a fine, a prison term, or both.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 636 Related bill FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016
  • S 2249 Related bill Drone Operator Safety Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4911: Drone Operator Safety Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4911/
MLA
"H.R. 4911: Drone Operator Safety Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4911/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4911, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4911/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4911: Drone Operator Safety Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4911/)
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