Jerry Brown vetoes legislation to require warrants for drone surveillance

[Recursion]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/09/california-cops-dont-need-warrants-to-surveil-with-drones/

California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation that would have required the police to obtain search warrants to surveil the public with unmanned drones.

Brown, a Democrat facing re-election in November, sided with law enforcement and said the legislation simply granted Californians privacy rights that went too far beyond existing guarantees. Sunday's veto comes as the small drones are becoming increasingly popular with business, hobbyists, and law enforcement.

"This bill prohibits law enforcement from using a drone without obtaining a search warrant, except in limited circumstances," the governor said in his veto message (PDF). "There are undoubtedly circumstances where a warrant is appropriate. The bill's exceptions, however, appear to be too narrow and could impose requirements beyond what is required by either the 4th Amendment or the privacy provisions in the California Constitution."

At least 10 other states require the police to get a court warrant to surveil with a drone. Those states include Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

[davidn3600]

1. Of course

You actually expect our politicians to approve legislation that makes it difficult for them to spy on us?

[Le Taz Hot]

2. ". . . sided with law enforcement . . ."

explains it. He's up for re-election and he thinks he needs their endorsement. He doesn't as he's in double digits above his Republican opponent but there you go. No idea if the leg. has a chance to override it. Despite his "liberal" reputation, he has used the veto pen rather generously, including vetoing the hemp bill which would have allowed certain VOLUNTEER counties to allow farmers to grow hemp. He caved into the Sheriffs that time.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. Jerry Brown is NO Liberal. He's more of a ConservaDem than Moderate Dem, too.

When it comes to legislation that benefits ordinary Californians, he's come up short time and time again.

[reddread]

3. he is so full of shit, state constitution guarantees privacy

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_1

is there a modern meaning to "inalienable"?

[marym625]

4. shame on him!

Not the man he used to be

[Skink]

5. Must have missed Hawaii five O last week