For now, drone pilots don’t have to fear that the Colorado General Assembly will in any way clip their wings.

On Tuesday, Rep. Paul Rosenthal, D-Denver, pulled a bill he sponsored that aimed to restrict the use of aerial drones near airports and prisons.

The proposal drew criticism from criminal defense attorneys and members of the unmanned aircraft community.

As it was originally written, HB 1020 would have prevented the use of unauthorized drones within a five-mile radius of airports and from detention facilities. Rosenthal earlier amended the bill to remove the restrictions tied to airports, based on feedback from drone users and from Denver International Airport.

As it was presented to the House Judicial Committee, the bill would have only dealt with drones flying above correctional facilities to head off people trying to introduce contraband to jails. Several witnesses spoke against the measure, however, including Carrie Thompson, a member of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. She questioned whether the bill was necessary, since it is already illegal to smuggle contraband into prisons and jails, no matter the delivery method.

Drone users also said the bill could negatively impact business — like the work of professional photographers — and reduce the state’s attractiveness to drone manufacturers.

“What I was trying to do is listen to all of the feedback and make sure that, if we’re going to have a bill go forward, it is a bill that incorporates as much as we can of some of the voices from the community,” Rosenthal said. “People who are not just in the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) drone community — but also law enforcement, prosecution, defense — and make sure we’re doing a law that everyone feels comfortable with and people feel is useful.”

Rosenthal said he hoped the discussion the bill generated and the relationships he developed during his work on the bill laid the groundwork for a successful bill on the topic in the future.

“My goal is to make sure that this is good law and implemented as part of an effort to bring Colorado law up-to-date with technology,” he said.

– ramsey@coloradostatesman.com