NYPD expands drone use across the five boroughs, new application system: Eric Adams

Publish date: 2024-03-20

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Mayor Eric Adams wants more New Yorkers to have an eye in the sky by announcing new guidelines loosening restrictions for flying drones across the five boroughs.

“New York City, we’re flying into the future,” Hizzoner announced at City Hall on Friday.

The ease in regulations is the latest in Adams’ unabashed embrace of new technology — which has included robot dogs, car trackers and a subway policing robot dubbed “snitch bot.”

“Drones are proven technology, and they’re being used every day. And the City of New York cannot lead from the rear. We must lead from the front,” Adams said, standing on Manhattan’s Pier 35.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban joined Adams to talk about the revamped process, including a website to file for a permit 30 days in advance of flights which is reviewed by local law enforcement and the Department of Transportation. Each application is $150.

Mayor Adams loosened restrictions for flying drones in New York City. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

“By having a website, you can see that we are utilizing the permission process in the correct way, and that’s the goal,” Adams said. “The goal is transparency, allowing people to take away the uncertainty.
Even with approval, drone operators must follow a long list of rules: reporting crashes to NYPD, telling community boards and the public if they plan to collect photos or videos, and must take off from only designated sites.

“We’re paving the way for the future use of drones here in our everyday lives, not just in emergency situations,” added Adams.

The tech-obsessed mayor cheered several new crime-fighting robots earlier this year, touting the successful deployment of the controversial “Digi-dog” robot that helped the FDNY investigate wreckage left in the wake of the Lower Manhattan garage collapse.

This is a part of Adams’ latest unabashed embrace of new technology. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

But Adams noted he’s aware of privacy concerns and promised the expansion won’t lead to “abuse.”

He’s previously promised to boost the NYPD’s own use of flying drones around Gotham as a way to supplement the force. To date, there are few regulations guiding usage for city use of drones.

The new process includes a website to file for a permit 30 days in advance of flights. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Friday’s rule change will also change the way for increased recreational use – which right now is limited to a handful of areas governed by the city Department of Parks and Recreation, far from busy metro areas – so long as interested individuals follow a lengthy set of requirements.

Previously, the NYPD and Department of Transportation limited unnamed flight operations to specific areas around the city, including take-off and landing areas.

“We’re paving the way for the future use of drones in our everyday lives,” Adams said, “not just in emergency situations.

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