The legal battle over occupational licenses has intensified as a North Carolina drone operator seeks intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that his aerial mapping business constitutes protected speech. Michael Jones, the proprietor of 360 Virtual Drone Services, has been under threat of prosecution by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. The board contends that Jones must obtain a state surveying license to continue selling his aerial photography and mapping services. For Jones, this license requirement is impractical, as it would necessitate nine years of training under a licensed surveyor.
Earlier, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld North Carolina’s licensing regime, viewing it as a regulation of conduct rather than speech. Jones’s case could have significant implications for the broader regulatory landscape affecting professional licenses and First Amendment rights. For more details on this case and its potential impact, visit the National Law Journal.