Oregon Code § 837.365·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Weaponized unmanned aircraft systems; penalties.
(1) Except as provided in
subsection (3) of this section, a person may not intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly operate or cause to be operated an unmanned aircraft system that is:
(a) Capable of
firing a bullet or projectile; or
(b) Specifically
designed or modified to cause, and is presently capable of causing, serious
physical injury as defined in ORS 161.015.
(2)(a) Except as
provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, violation of subsection
(1) of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) Violation of
subsection (1) of this section is a Class C felony if the person intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly operates an unmanned aircraft system and the unmanned
aircraft system fires a bullet or projectile.
(c) Violation of
subsection (1) of this section is a Class B felony if the person intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly operates an unmanned aircraft system and the unmanned
aircraft system:
(A) Fires a
bullet or projectile that causes serious physical injury, as defined in ORS
161.015, to another person; or
(B)(i) Is
specifically designed or modified to cause, and is presently capable of
causing, serious physical injury as defined in ORS 161.015; and
(ii) The design
or modification causes serious physical injury, as defined in ORS 161.015, to
another person.
(3) Subsection
(1) of this section does not apply if:
(a) The person
uses the unmanned aircraft system to release, discharge, propel or eject a
nonlethal projectile for purposes other than to injure or kill persons or
animals;
(b) The person
uses the unmanned aircraft system for nonrecreational purposes in compliance
with specific authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration;
(c) The person
notifies the Oregon Department of Aviation, the Oregon State Police and any
other agency that issues a permit or license for the activity requiring the use
of the unmanned aircraft system of the time and location at which the person
intends to use an unmanned aircraft system that is capable of releasing,
discharging, propelling or ejecting a projectile at least five days before the
person uses the system;
(d) If the person
intends to use an unmanned aircraft system that is capable of releasing,
discharging, propelling or ejecting a projectile in an area open to the public,
the person provides reasonable notice to the public of the time and location at
which the person intends to use the unmanned aircraft system; and
(e) The person
maintains a liability insurance policy in an amount not less than $1 million
that covers injury resulting from use of the unmanned aircraft system.
(4) The
notification requirement of subsection (3)(c) of this section does not apply
to:
(a) A career
school licensed under ORS 345.010 to 345.340;
(b) A community
college as defined in ORS 341.005;
(c) A school;
(d) The Oregon
Health and Science University;
(e) A public
university listed in ORS 352.002; or
(f) An
institution that is exempt from ORS 348.594 to 348.615 under ORS 348.597 (2).
(5)
Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, a person may not use an
unmanned aircraft system that is capable of releasing, discharging, propelling
or ejecting a projectile for purposes of crowd management.
(6) As used in
this section, school means a public or private institution of learning
providing instruction at levels kindergarten through grade 12, or their
equivalents. [2013 c.686 §10; 2015 c.315 §9; 2016 c.72 §2; 2017 c.502 §1; 2018
c.120 §6]
Note:
See note under 837.300.