The Federal Aviation Administration gave The Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol a special permission for the use of drones over people.

The unmanned aircraft systems can now be used over urban areas where people live. Deputy Tom Schroeder informed that since the agency put into action it’s drone program about a year ago, drones could be used only in rural areas.

Law enforcement agencies now can obtain support from the sheriff’s department within the state’s borders if there is situation in which a drone needs to be flown over inhabited areas.