Prohibited use - Exceptions
N.D. Cent. Code § 29-29.4-05
in effect29-29.4-05. Prohibited use - Exceptions
1. A law enforcement agency may not authorize the use of, including granting a permit to
use, an unmanned aerial vehicle armed with any lethal weapons.
2. This chapter prohibits any use of an unmanned aerial vehicle or robot for:
a. Domestic use in private surveillance. A law enforcement agency may not
authorize the use of, including granting a permit to use, an unmanned aerial
vehicle or robot to permit any private person to conduct surveillance on any other
private person without the express, informed consent of that other person or the
owner of any real property on which that other private person is present.
b. Surveillance of the lawful exercise of constitutional rights, unless the surveillance
is otherwise allowed under this chapter.
3. A law enforcement agency may not authorize the use of a robot to deploy a lethal
weapon, unless the weapon is controlled remotely, cannot be activated autonomously,
and is used to:
a. Neutralize an inanimate object at risk of exploding or causing an immediate threat
to public safety or property; or
b. Prevent an imminent and substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death to a law
enforcement officer or another individual, in a circumstance where the use of
lethal force by an officer would be legally justified.
4. A law enforcement agency may not authorize the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle or
robot to deploy a less than lethal weapon, unless the weapon is controlled remotely
and cannot be activated autonomously.
5. A law enforcement agency, before authorizing any use of force, shall adopt a policy on
the use of force by an unmanned aerial vehicle or robot, which includes the individuals
with authority to authorize the use of force by an unmanned aerial vehicle or robot.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t29c29-4.pdf#nameddest=29-29p4-05Fetched: 10/16/2026