AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine law has fallen behind the times in regulating technological snooping devices, a legislative committee was told Tuesday as it was asked to consider setting ground rules for the use of drones by state and local law enforcement agencies.

“Big brother is no longer the stuff of science fiction,” Sen. John Patrick told the Judiciary Committee as it held a hearing on the Rumford Democrat’s bill.

The measure would regulate police agencies’ acquisition and operation of the unmanned aerial vehicles and would require a warrant in most cases before police could use drones for surveillance.

In describing the emergence of remotely operated devices, Patrick said they are equipped with powerful video cameras, infrared sensors, license plate readers, listening devices “and other technology to monitor people in activities on the ground.”

“Drones can be as big as a plane and as small as an insect, and can fly among people, or hover over their backyards undetected,” the senator added.

While people are familiar with the use of drones in military operations, few are aware of their emergence in domestic law enforcement applications, he said.

In Maine, no one keeps track of who uses drones. While no police are known to use them, some private groups like land surveyors do.

The American Civil Liberties Union’s Maine chapter, which asked Patrick to champion the bill, has made privacy issues a priority this year. The group says that in order to be legally used, the targeted person would have to give consent, a warrant or court order would have to be issued, or an emergency situation would have to be in progress.

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