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Anyone willing to trade privacy for security deserves neither

-Ben Franklin

Mass Surveillance of Virginia

Documenting surveillance cameras and surveillance investigators in Virginia

Mass Surveillance from All Angles

Cameras, Cars & People

The vehicles and individuals shown have been captured in more than one location around Henrico VA taking pictures of cars and people. They have, in some cases, been seen using walkie talkies, and parked tucked in obscure parks of various parking lots. The Henrico police department has stated these people are not their employees, so in an attempt to let the public know that there are surveillance investigators, private investigators, or insurance investigators lurking! The Henrico police department has also stated that someone can follow you around, take pictures of you, follow you to and from, all legally, if they do not speak to you!

Can You Spot the Drone?

Can You Spot the Drone?

Can You Spot the Drone?

Just so You Know

Virginia Statues to Know

Explore our videos of drones. You can easily spot drones at night, but can you pinpoint a drone during the day? Explore some of the Virginia law and statues pertaining to drones, surveillance and privacy.

Drone laws are set as a whole for the state. Each locality can set take-off and landing places of their own drones, but only on property they own, or have permission to use.

Va. Code § 15.2‑926.3 titled "Local regulation of certain aircraft"

Va. Code § 15.2‑926.3 titled "Local regulation of certain aircraft"

This is Virginia’s core privacy statute for drones.

  • Makes it unlawful to use a drone to secretly or furtively peep or spy into a dwelling (house, apartment, trailer, etc.).

  • Applies to windows, doors, or any aperture.

  • Protects any place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

  • Class 1 misdemeanor.

  • Exception: lawful criminal investigations.

Va. Code § 18.2‑121.3 — Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system

This statute protects privacy around private property.

Key provisions:

  • Illegal to intentionally fly a drone onto someone’s property and come within 50 feet of a dwelling.

  • Applies when the drone is used to coerce, intimidate, harass, or after the owner has told the operator to stop.

  • Updated to prohibit flying in violation of FAA airspace restrictions.

  • Class 1 misdemeanor for basic violations.

  • Felony penalties for flying over critical infrastructure or defense facilities (2025 amendments).

Va. Code § 18.2‑324.2 — Use of UAS for certain purposes

This statute prohibits certain forms of drone‑based surveillance:

  • Sex offenders may not use drones to follow, contact, or capture images of another person without permission.

  • Prohibits rendering a person identifiable by face or distinguishing characteristics.

  • Protects individuals from targeted drone surveillance.

Direct drone privacy statutes

  • Peeping/spying into dwellings (§ 18.2‑130.1)

  • Trespass within 50 feet of a home (§ 18.2‑121.3)

  • Non‑consensual image capture (§ 18.2‑324.2)

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