New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 280.10 — Applicability and restrictions
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 280: Offenses Relating to Unlawful Use of a Drone, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 280.10
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
* § 280.10 Applicability and restrictions.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following
persons or entities:
1. A toy drone operated solely for recreation, unless such toy drone
is operated in a manner that would recklessly create a substantial risk
of physical injury to another person or substantial risk of damage to
property.
2. A recreational drone operated solely for hobby or recreational
purposes and operates in compliance with all applicable federal laws,
rules, regulations, authorizations, waivers, or exemptions and all other
applicable state and local laws, rules, and regulations, unless such
recreational drone is operated in a manner that recklessly creates a
substantial risk of physical injury to another person or substantial
risk of damage to property.
3. A drone operated for commercial, educational, agricultural,
journalistic, infrastructure, or other lawful purposes in compliance
with all applicable federal laws, rules, regulations, authorizations,
waivers, or exemptions and all other applicable state and local laws,
rules and regulations, unless such drone is operated in a manner that
recklessly creates a substantial risk of physical injury to another
person or substantial risk of damage to property.
4. A governmental employee, or a person acting on behalf of a state or
local government entity, provided that such person or employee is acting
in a manner consistent with such person's governmental duties.
* NB Effective August 25, 2026
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