TRENTON, N.J. — A new bill introduced in the New Jersey Assembly would grant conservation and park police officers within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expanded authority to utilize drones while enforcing state laws, including those governing wildlife, trespassing, and park disturbances.
Assembly Bill A4014, sponsored by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-8) and Assemblyman Cody D. Miller (D-4), seeks to amend existing statutes to explicitly allow DEP officers to deploy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in their duties. Under the bill, violations observed through the use of drones would allow officers to make warrantless arrests and bring offenders before a court.
The legislation also emphasizes the integration of drone technology into broader law enforcement responsibilities, including surveillance and enforcement in state parks and forests. It builds on current allowances for officers to use drones in preventing the illegal taking of wildlife, as outlined in previous laws.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the establishment of law enforcement training programs, overseen by the DEP with approval from the Attorney General, to ensure officers are properly trained in the use of drones.
Officers authorized to use drones under this legislation would also maintain the ability to carry firearms while enforcing state laws.
If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately, giving DEP officers a new tool for monitoring violations in real-time, improving enforcement capabilities in remote or difficult-to-access areas, and addressing public safety concerns in state-managed lands.
The state would also be able to check on private property easements, wetlands management zones, and buffer zone compliance using drones.
The bill reflects an effort to modernize law enforcement tactics within New Jersey’s environmental and conservation agencies.
