Police Want To Use More Drones.
Here’s Why That’s a Problem.

What’s Happening?

Heads up, Oregon! There’s a bill moving through our state legislature right now that would change how police use surveillance drones in our communities. The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 238A on April 15, and the measure is now heading to the House. Let’s join the ACLU of Oregon in urging our legislators to vote NO on SB 238A by May 7.

Why should you care? Because this bill would let police fly drones over our neighborhoods, public gatherings, and protests without getting a warrant first.

The Current Rules vs. the New Rules

Right now, police need to get a judge’s permission (a warrant) before they can use drones to watch us, except in true emergencies like search and rescue missions.

The new bill would change that. It would let police use drones whenever:

• Someone calls 911
• They think “personal safety or property is at risk”

That’s super vague! Think about it; almost any situation could fit those descriptions.

These Aren’t Toy Drones

We’re not talking about the little drones you might get as a birthday gift. Police drones have high-powered cameras that can zoom in on your face from hundreds of feet away. Some have night vision. And they can store video of everyone they see — whether you’ve done anything wrong or not. Without proper oversight, these powerful tools could end up watching all of us, all the time.

Why It Matters Now

Back in 2013, Oregon was a leader in creating balanced drone rules that protected both public safety AND our privacy. Those rules came from thoughtful discussions that included both police and civil rights advocates. This new bill

The public hearing on this bill is happening on May 7th. That means we need to speak up NOW if we want to keep our privacy protections.

What We Can Do Now

Take action now:

• The easiest way to help is through the ACLU of Oregon’s action page. It just takes a minute to tell your state legislative representative to vote NO.
• Share your thoughts directly: Feel strongly about this? You can submit written comments or even sign up to speak at the hearing through Oregon’s Legislative Information System (OLIS).
• Spread the word: Most people don’t know this is happening! Share this post with friends and family on social media. The more voices speaking up, the better chance we have.

Bottom Line

At a time when many of us are already worried about government overreach, SB 238A would remove important protections that keep police surveillance in check. If we care about our right to gather in public, speak freely,and move about without constant monitoring, we need to act now. Your voice matters; use it before May 7th!

This post was created with the help of the Justice Study Group Committee of the Multnomah County Democrats.