Flying drones over Hanford could land you in jail

Drones are being banned from flying over the Hanford nuclear reservation under an agreement of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Energy.

The restriction was requested by U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, said the FAA.

Restrictions on unauthorized drones at Hanford and six other DOE sites take effect Dec. 29.

Any exceptions to the new rule must be approved by Hanford officials or DOE, said the FAA.

Drone operators who violate the restriction could be subject to civil penalties and criminal charges, according to the FAA.

Other sites where drones will be banned include the Idaho National Laboratory, the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Site in Tennessee, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and the Pantex Site in Texas.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Flying drones over Hanford could land you in jail."