Can police use a drone for surveillance without a warrant?

The correct choice highlights the crucial issue of privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment. Police cannot use drones for surveillance in a manner that would invade an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy without obtaining a warrant. This principle is grounded in the understanding that citizens have a right to expect privacy in certain circumstances, such as within their homes or private property. If the surveillance is conducted in a way that infringes upon those expectations, law enforcement must have a warrant to justify that intrusion.

Using a drone to observe activities occurring in an area where individuals can reasonably expect privacy, such as the interior of their home or in secluded areas, would violate constitutional protections. Therefore, without a warrant, such surveillance would likely be deemed unlawful.

In contrast, if the surveillance from a drone occurs over public spaces where individuals generally do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, that may be permissible. However, when it comes to private areas where privacy interests are strongly held, a warrant is typically necessary. Understanding these boundaries is vital for law enforcement to operate within constitutional constraints while executing their duties.