How Tennessee's Drone Laws Affect Private Investigations — And What Sets Birds Eye Apart
Drones have transformed private investigation. Aerial surveillance capabilities that would have required a helicopter and a significant budget ten years ago are now available through compact, quiet unmanned aircraft systems. But drone surveillance in Tennessee is governed by a specific set of laws, and not every PI firm operates in compliance with them.
Federal requirements
Any drone used for commercial purposes — including private investigation — must be operated by a pilot holding an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. This requires passing an aeronautical knowledge test and complying with ongoing FAA regulations including airspace restrictions, maximum altitude limits, and operational rules.
Tennessee state law
Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-903 addresses the use of drones for surveillance. Under this law, it is a criminal offense to use a drone to conduct surveillance of an individual in a location where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Surveillance of individuals on their own private property, inside a structure, or in other private locations is prohibited.
What drone surveillance is legal for in a PI context includes observing subjects in public locations, documenting activity on commercial properties, monitoring activity in areas visible from public airspace, and augmenting ground surveillance in open or semi-public environments.
What sets Birds Eye apart
We operate FAA-certified drones piloted by Part 107-certified operators. Every drone engagement is planned in advance with airspace compliance in mind. Our aerial footage is timestamped, GPS-tagged, and documented in a way that establishes its legal collection from the outset. For attorneys considering drone-assisted evidence, we can speak to the admissibility of our aerial documentation methodology before the engagement begins.
If you want to understand how aerial surveillance might support your case, contact us for a consultation.