725 ILCS 167/15

(725 ILCS 167/15)

Sec. 15. Exceptions. This Act does not prohibit the use of a drone by a law enforcement agency:

(1) To counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the United States Secretary of Homeland Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that there is that risk.

(2) If a law enforcement agency first obtains a search warrant based on probable cause issued under Section 108-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. The warrant must be limited to a period of 45 days, renewable by the judge upon a showing of good cause for subsequent periods of 45 days.

(3) If a law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent harm to life, or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence. The use of a drone under this paragraph (3) is limited to a period of 48 hours. Within 24 hours of the initiation of the use of a drone under this paragraph (3), the chief executive officer of the law enforcement agency must report in writing the use of a drone to the local State's Attorney.

(4) If a law enforcement agency is not undertaking a criminal investigation but is attempting to locate a missing person, engaging in search and rescue operations, or aiding a person who cannot otherwise be safely reached.

(5) If a law enforcement agency is using a drone solely for crime scene and traffic crash scene photography. Crime scene and traffic crash photography must be conducted in a geographically confined and time-limited manner to document specific occurrences. The use of a drone under this paragraph (5) on private property requires either a search warrant based on probable cause under Section 108-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or lawful consent to search. The use of a drone under this paragraph (5) on lands, highways, roadways, or areas belonging to this State or political subdivisions of this State does not require a search warrant or consent to search. Any law enforcement agency operating a drone under this paragraph (5) shall make every reasonable attempt to only photograph the crime scene or traffic crash scene and avoid other areas.

(6) If a law enforcement agency is using a drone during a disaster or public health emergency, as defined by Section 4 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The use of a drone under this paragraph (6) does not require an official declaration of a disaster or public health emergency prior to use. A law enforcement agency may use a drone under this paragraph (6) to obtain information necessary for the determination of whether or not a disaster or public health emergency should be declared, to monitor weather or emergency conditions, to survey damage, or to otherwise coordinate response and recovery efforts. The use of a drone under this paragraph (6) is permissible during the disaster or public health emergency and during subsequent response and recovery efforts.

(7) To conduct an infrastructure inspection of a designated building or structure at the express request of a local government agency. Any law enforcement agency operating a drone under this paragraph (7) shall make every reasonable attempt to photograph only the building or structure and to avoid other areas.

(8) To demonstrate the capabilities and functionality of a police drone for public relations purposes, provided that no information is collected or recorded by the drone during such demonstration.

(9) In response to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatched calls for service, when the sole purpose for using a drone is for one or more first responders to locate victims, to assist with immediate victim health or safety needs, or to coordinate the response of emergency vehicles and personnel to an emergency. As used in this paragraph (9), "Public Safety Answering Point" and "PSAP" have the meaning given to those terms in Section 2 of the Emergency Telephone System Act.

(10) If a law enforcement agency is using a drone at a routed event or special event. The use of a drone under this paragraph (10) requires that:

(A) notice is posted at the event location for at least 24 hours before the event and clearly communicates that drones may be used at the upcoming event for the purpose of real-time monitoring of participant safety;

(B) notice is posted, if practical, at major entry points to the event clearly informing the attendees that a drone may be used for the purpose of real-time monitoring of participant safety; and

(C) the drone is flown in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations.

Under this paragraph (10), a law enforcement agency may use the drone:

(i) in advance of an event, before event participants have begun to assemble, for the sole purpose of creating maps and determining appropriate access routes, staging areas, and traffic routes, provided that no personal identifying information is recorded and provided further that no recorded information is used in any criminal prosecution; or

(ii) during the event to proactively support public safety personnel by monitoring the event footprint in real time:

(I) to detect a breach of event space, including a breach by an unauthorized vehicle, an interruption of a parade route, or a breach of an event barricade or fencing;

(II) to evaluate crowd size and density;

(III) to identify activity that could present a public safety issue for the crowd as a whole, including crowd movement;

(IV) to assist in the response of public safety personnel to a real-time public safety incident at the event; and

(V) to assess the traffic and pedestrian flow around the event in real time.

(Source: P.A. 103-101, eff. 6-16-23.)