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RI To Crack Down On Drones At Outdoors Events

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities in Rhode Island say they will crack down against the use of drones during popular outdoors public events this summer, saying state laws and regulations ban the unmanned aircrafts.

Rhode Island Airport Corp. Inspector James Warcup issued the warning on Saturday, six days before the beginning of the biennial yacht race from Newport to the island of Bermuda. The event is expected to attract spectators, sailboats and conventional helicopters.

Warcup said drones are increasingly popular for photography and video purposes, but any use of the unmanned aircrafts near public open-air events would constitute a misdemeanor under state laws and regulations governing aviation safety.

Warcup says his agency has asked state police and local law enforcement agencies to monitor and enforce the law, saying their primary concern is aviation safety.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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