Sen. Schumer pushes for increased surveillance to hunt drones in NY, NJ

Sen. Chuck Schumer wants expanded surveillance and drone detection systems for the tristate area following numerous reports of the unmanned flying vehicles disturbing residents.

Schumer, D-N.Y., said federal authorities should hand more power to state and local law enforcement to deal with the drones.

“Locals should not have to shake an eight ball to get desperate answers on nonstop drone sightings when the feds can do more to help,” Schumer said Sunday.

New Jersey residents have been bothered by drones since late November, and numerous recent sightings have been reported in Queens, the Bronx and the Hudson Valley. On Friday night, runways at Stewart International Airport in Orange County were shut down for an hour due to drones.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday that the federal government had approved a “state-of-the-art” drone detection system for the state.

Schumer specifically focused on a company called Robin, which makes drone detection technology. Over the summer, the Netherlands purchased 51 Robin drone radar systems and sent them to Ukraine.

Federal authorities have downplayed the threat of the drones. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said Thursday there is no evidence of the drones flying in restricted airspace. In fact, according to the feds, many of the reported “drone” sightings were actually “manned aircraft, operating lawfully.”

Republican lawmakers and leaders have urged the federal government to take more decisive action by simply shooting the drones down. It is illegal for private citizens to shoot down drones so the military would have to handle any such action.