Senate to Take Up Prohibition on Flying Drones Over Prisons

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate is slated to take up a bill Tuesday that would impose a heavy fine for flying drones over Wisconsin's prisons.

The bill follows a series of incidents across the country in which smugglers flew drugs, pornography or other contraband over prison walls, dropping the packages from drones. Wisconsin hasn't yet had similar issues, but legislators say they want to be proactive.

The bill would impose a $5,000 fine for flying a drone over state correctional institutions.

Another bill that would have increased the penalty for a crime if a drone is used to commit it is likely dead after it didn't make it onto the Senate's calendar for its Tuesday session. Tuesday was expected to be the Senate's last floor period of the two-year legislative session.