In a hearing convened Monday by the state Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee to address drone use at public school events like football games, a glaring public safety concern was left unresolved.
Despite having a panel of drone experts, questions were restricted solely to the proposed legislation, avoiding broader discussion about the ongoing drone crisis affecting New Jersey residents nightly for over a month.
Aiming to shed light on the wider drone emergency, Republican Assemblyman Paul Kanitra pressed for answers on how law enforcement would respond to pre-programmed drones—potentially launched offshore with no detectable signals or known origin.
“How do you think your officers would have to respond to a threat like that?” Kanitra asked.
Police Cpl. Jack Smith of Lower Alloways Creek explained current protocols only require filing reports with State Police, while tracking a drone’s origin remains “very difficult.”
Drone security expert Ron Leach added that only four federal agencies are authorized to use active counter-drone measures.
“We have to find the operator,” Leach said. “That’s where we’re at.”
New Jersey has faced nightly incidents of unidentified drones flying over residential areas, causing widespread concern and raising serious security questions. Despite ongoing sightings, the origin and intent of these drones remain unknown, limiting law enforcement’s ability to protect residents.
“It’s unacceptable that we’re dealing with a sustained, serious drone threat in our skies, yet we’re handcuffed from asking the real questions that matter,” Kanitra said following the hearing. “We had a panel of experts right in front of us, and the opportunity to explore practical solutions beyond the bill was squandered. At least some basic answers finally emerged today.”
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