ATHENS FIRST-RESPONDER DRONES 

IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, ONE COMMUNITY IS CHALLENGING A NEW DRONE PROGRAM BASED ON CIVIL LIBERTIES CONCERNS.
THE ATHENS CITY COUNCIL CITY AND SAFETY SERVICES COMMITTEE BLOCKED THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S DRONE PROGRAM FROM PROCEEDING BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER WARRANTLESS SEARCHES AND POTENTIAL CIVIL LIBERTIES VIOLATIONS.THE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FIRST-RESPONDERS WITH REAL-TIME AERIAL FOOTAGE FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE, SUSPECT IDENTIFCATION AND HAZARD ASSESSMENT. ATHENS CITY COUNCILMAN MICHAEL WOOD IS PROPOSING EXPLICIT WARRANT REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER FOR THE PROJECT TO PROCEED.