New Louisiana Drone Laws: Statutes, Penalties, and Restrictions

Unlawful Use of an Unmanned Aircraft System

Key State Statutes: R.S. 14:337

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 14:337, the following are criminal offenses:

• Surveillance of a “targeted facility” without written consent — includes places like schools, correctional facilities, nuclear plants, chemical or rubber manufacturing facilities, grain elevators, etc.
  • First offense: up to $500 fine and up to 6 months imprisonment.
  • Second/subsequent offense: $500–$4,000 fine, 6 months to 2 years imprisonment, forfeiture of the drone.
• Flying over sensitive correctional locations (including the Governor’s mansion, jails, prisons) without consent:
  • First offense: up to $2,000 fine, up to 6 months imprisonment.

Exceptions exist for operations where prior written consent has been granted, and for federal/state government, local law enforcement, agricultural operations, or certain university research.

New Drone Defense Law, Effective August 1 2025

“We Will Act” Act (HB 261 / Act 170)

Overview and Authority Expansion

• Enacted June 2025, effective August 1, 2025, the “We Will Act” Act grants Louisiana state and local law enforcement explicit authority to detect, intercept, disable, or neutralize drones deemed to pose a threat or be involved in criminal or unsafe operation—using tools like jamming, hacking, or physical capture—so long as such actions are “legal and safe.”
• Louisiana is the first U.S. state to grant this level of counter-drone authority at the state/local level.

Parade and Public Event Restrictions

• Drones are now explicitly prohibited from flying over parades, protests, and public gatherings unless authorized for purposes such as film or TV production.
• Local authorities are required to establish and publicly post “Drone No‑Fly Zones” along parade routes.

Penalties Under the New Law

Violating no-fly rules around parades/public events now carries:

• Minimum $2,000 fine up to $5,000
• Up to one year imprisonment
• Mandatory forfeiture of the drone used in the offense.

Broader Scope and Implications

• The law also targets drones near schools, prisons, critical infrastructure (including nuclear power plants), and crowded venues, enabling rapid local response compared to waiting on federal authorities.
• Technology controls and training are emphasized—only specially trained officers may take mitigation actions, with an expectation of using low-impact, precise counter-UAS systems.
• Critics note potential conflicts with FAA authority over national airspace and ambiguity around what constitutes an “authorized” drone or a “nefarious” threat.

FAA Policy and Local Drone Rules

State Preemption of Local Drone Ordinances

Louisiana Revised Statutes § 2:2 explicitly state that the state has exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of unmanned aerial systems. Consequently, any local rules that conflict with state law are preempted and potentially invalidated. This preemption means cities and parishes generally cannot enact independent drone ordinances unless special circumstances apply.

Local Restrictions in Parks and Nature Areas

Despite broad preemption, certain park-specific rules do enforce drone restrictions:

• Audubon Nature Institute Parks: Drones are expressly prohibited across all parks owned by this entity.
• City Park, New Orleans: Drone operation within City Park is banned and may result in revocation of park access privileges if violated.

These prohibitions aren’t general municipal ordinances but rather site-specific rules enforced by park administrators.

Federal FAA Limitations and Event-Specific No-Fly Zones

Overlaying both state and local rules are federal restrictions:

• For example, the FAA issues Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and “No Drone Zone” designations during major events like Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
• These federal orders are strictly enforced and can carry heavy penalties, including fines up to $75,000 and drone confiscation.

Penalty Summary Table