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California Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Warrants For Drone Surveillance

schwit1 sends word that California governor Jerry Brown has vetoed legislation that would have required warrants for surveillance using unmanned drones. In his veto message (PDF), Brown said, "This bill prohibits law enforcement from using a drone without obtaining a search warrant, except in limited circumstances. There are undoubtedly circumstances where a warrant is appropriate. The bill's exceptions, however, appear to be too narrow and could impose requirements beyond what is required by either the 4th Amendment or the privacy provisions in the California Constitution."

The article notes that 10 other states already require a warrant for routine surveillance with a drone (Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin). Further, Brown's claims about the bill's exceptions are overstated — according to Slate, "California's drone bill is not draconian. It includes exceptions for emergency situations, search-and-rescue efforts, traffic first responders, and inspection of wildfires. It allows other public agencies to use drones for other purposes — just not law enforcement."

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  1. California Uber Alles by drinkypoo · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    California über alles
    California above all others
    (California über alles) (2x) [Dead Kennedys]
    I'm your governor Pete Wilson, ya know
    The baddest governor to ever grab the mic and go
    BOOOM!
    Gimme a budget and watch me hack it!
    Gimme a beat and I'll show you how to jack it!
    I give the rich a giant tax loophole
    I leave the poor living in a poophole
    At a time when Aids is in a crisis
    I cut health care and I raise prices
    Sales tax, snack tax, excise tax
    Information attack with a newspaper tax
    Hit the pocket books of working families
    Increase tuition at the universities
    Some day I'll command all o' you
    Even your kids are gonna pray to me in school
    Soon I'm gonna be the president
    You might remember the last one this state sent

    California über alles (4x)
    (California über alles) (2x)

    I'm so proud to know the Great Communicator
    Wanna be known as the Great Incarcerator
    I'll blow environmentalists away
    And I'll be the führer some day
    I'll keep cuttin' Public Education
    even though we rank 54th in the nation
    I've got a plan for all the minorities
    Send'em to the California Youth Authorities
    From San Francisco Urban Elementary
    to Pelican Bay State Penitentiary
    There they can work for the master race
    and always wear a happy face
    Close your eyes, it can't happen here
    Big Brother in a squad car's comin' near
    Come enjoy the surf and the sun
    and keep California number one!

    California über alles (4x)
    (California über alles) (2x)

    Now it's 1992
    Knock knock on your front door, yo guess who
    It's the suede denim secret police
    They've come to your house for your long haired niece
    Gonna send her off to a camp
    'cause she's been accused of growing hemp
    Don't you worry it's only a shower
    And now for your clothes here's a pretty flower
    Gonna die on malathion gas
    The serpent's egg has already been hatched
    People starvin' and livin' in the streets
    because they tried to mess with me, President Pete!

    California über alles (4x)
    (California über alles) (2x)

    (Dead Kennedys / Jello Biafra / John Greenway, performed by Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy)

    Guess it's time for another California Uber Alles song, huh? Moonbeam gets two.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"