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Senate Passes Bill Which Limits Police Drones

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – A bill that would set limits on when police departments in the state could deploy drones has been approved in the Florida Senate.

Currently only Miami-Dade Police and the Orange County Sheriff's Office have remotely controlled drone aircraft which have become for their use by the U.S. against terrorists overseas.

Sen. Joe Negron's bill would restrict using drones to preventing imminent danger to life or serious damage to property.

"I believe that privacy should be protected and I look forward to signing Senator Negron's drone bill," said Gov. Rick Scott in a statement. "This law will ensure that the rights of Florida families are protected from the unwarranted use of drones and other unmanned aircraft."

The bill would also make police get a search warrant before using a drone to collect evidence. An exception would be a credible threat of terrorist attack.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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