Louisiana Empowers Local Police to Disable Dangerous Drones

Louisiana has become the first U.S. state to authorize local law enforcement to intercept and disable drones posing credible threats to public safety through the new "We Will Act" Act signed by Governor Jeff Landry. The law empowers specially trained state and local officers to use kinetic and non-kinetic technologies, such as signal jammers and physical nets, to neutralize drones operating unlawfully near high-risk areas like schools, public events, and critical infrastructure. This move marks a significant shift from federal-only authority to state and local control, addressing concerns about unauthorized drone activity, including incidents involving drug drops into prisons. Violators face penalties including fines up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, and mandatory drone forfeiture. The legislation has been praised for providing clear legal guidelines to law enforcement amid growing drone threats and is expected to set a precedent for future state drone policies nationwide. Governor Landry and President Donald Trump have publicly highlighted the importance of addressing these drone threats to public safety.