2017 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 175. Miscellaneous police provisions.
175.55 Use of drones restricted.
175.55 Use of drones restricted.
(1) In this section:
(a) “Drone" means a powered, aerial vehicle that carries or is equipped with a device that, in analog, digital, or other form, gathers, records, or transmits a sound or image, that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, and can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely. A drone may be expendable or recoverable.
(b) “Wisconsin law enforcement agency" has the meaning given in s. 165.77 (1) (c) and includes the department of justice and a tribal law enforcement agency.
(2) No Wisconsin law enforcement agency may use a drone to gather evidence or other information in a criminal investigation from or at a place or location where an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy without first obtaining a search warrant under s. 968.12. This subsection does not apply to the use of a drone in a public place or to assist in an active search and rescue operation, to locate an escaped prisoner, to surveil a place or location for the purpose of executing an arrest warrant, or if a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the use of a drone is necessary to prevent imminent danger to an individual or to prevent imminent destruction of evidence.
