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• Mar 26, 2008 10:12 am US/Eastern
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  High-Tech Drone May Join Miami-Dade's War On Crime

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High-Tech Drone May Join Miami-Dade's War On Crime

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Police in Miami-Dade County may soon have a new high-tech weapon in the war on crime. Reuters is reporting that Miami-Dade police could soon be the first in the nation to use small pilotless drones to help them fight crime and track criminals.

The small drone, manufactured by Honeywell International, is expected to make its debut soon over the Florida Everglades.

Like the U.S. military, which uses unmanned Predator drone aircraft to track terror suspects and even attack targets, these unmanned drones will fly over urban areas and be used during SWAT team and tactical operations.

"Our intentions are to use it only in tactical situations as an extra set of eyes," police department spokesman Juan Villalba told Reuters.

Each drone weighs about 14 pounds and fits into a backpack. They are also capable of a vertical takeoff and landing.

Before the drones start flying over Miami-Dade County, the Federal Aviation Administration has to give its approval. The FAA is the government agency responsible for regulating civil aviation.

Reuters states that privacy is an issue when it comes to using these drones. Privacy advocates say rules and ordinances need to be drafted to protect civil liberties during surveillance operations.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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