The FAA with cooperation with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced temporary drone flight restrictions over Federal U.S. Penitentiaries and Coast Guard Bases. The restrictions are for drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of the following facilities:
United States Penitentiaries (USP)
USP Tucson near Tucson, AZ
USP Atwater near Atwater, CA
USP Victorville near Victorville, CA
USP Florence High near Florence, CO
USP Florence ADMAX near Florence, CO
USP Coleman I near Sumterville, FL
USP Coleman II near Sumterville, FL
USP Marion near Marion, IL
USP Terre Haute near Terre Haute, IN
USP Big Sandy near Inez, KY
USP McCreary near Pine Knot, KY
USP Pollock near Pollock, LA
USP Yazoo City near Yazoo City, MS
USP Allenwood near Allenwood, PA
USP Canaan near Waymart, PA
USP Lewisburg near Lewisburg, PA
USP Beaumont near Beaumont, TX
USP Lee near Pennington Gap, VA
USP Hazelton near Bruceton Mills, WV
United States Coast Guard (USCG) Bases
USCG Baltimore Yard, MD
USCG Base Boston, MA
USCG Base Alameda, CA
USCG Base Los Angeles/Long Beach (LALB), CA
USCG Base Elizabeth City, NC
USCG Base Kodiak, AK
USCG Base Miami, FL
USCG Base Portsmouth, VA
USCG Base Seattle, WA
USCG Operations System Center (OSC) near Martinsburg, WV
The FAA drone flight restrictions are effective as of June 20, 2018. The FAA noted that there were few exceptions that would allow drone flights over these locations, and they must be coordinated with the FAA and/or individual facility.
This is the first time the Agency has placed specific flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft, or “drones,” over Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Coast Guard facilities. The FAA has placed similar flight restrictions over military installations that remain in place, as well as over ten Department of Interior facilities and seven Department of Energy facilities.
Operators who violate the flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.
For more information, go to the FAA website.