BREMERTON, Wash. — Kitsap County is working on a new drone ordinance to try to cut down on the number of drones flying over Naval Base Kitsap. There's a meeting underway in Port Orchard tonight for residents who live in the area impacted by the ordinance.
KIRO 7 reported in October that there had been more than 75 incidents of drones flying over the Naval Base Kitsap in the last two years.
The ordinance creates 3,000-foot buffer zones around all five Naval sites in Kitsap County.
The Navy considered banning drones in the buffer zones, then it considered having users request approval and have to wait for a response. After working with stakeholders, and realizing the amount of administrative work it would require, they have now moved to a less restrictive ordinance.
To use a drone in the buffers zones you would need to fill out a form online and it would be sent to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office and the U.S Navy. Once it is sent, drone users can launch, they don't need any approval. The goal is to give the Navy more time to react.
If the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners chooses to move forward with the ordinance there would be public hearings. It could go into effect as early as May. Violators could face fines or gross misdemeanor charges.
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