Have there been drone sightings in Rhode Island? What state police say.

PROVIDENCE – As drone sightings over the last month along the Eastern seaboard have raised concerns, including in Massachusetts, the Rhode Island governor’s office says the state police have not “received any recent complaints regarding drone activity.”

The Rhode Island State Police; however, are “aware that some local police departments have seen an increase in such incidents and is instructing these departments to report credible sightings” to the state police, said spokeswoman Olivia DaRocha in a statement Tuesday evening.

Drone sightings in Massachusetts prompt an official response

In Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday, “In terms of what we’re seeing up and down the East Coast, it’s concerning. I’ve spoken out, along with the governors of New Jersey and New York. We’ve not seen the volume New York and New Jersey have seen. I am not aware of, I can say right now there is no ongoing public safety threat to Massachusetts.”

Over the weekend, two men were arrested after allegedly flying a drone too close to Logan Airport, in Boston.

Humming clouds of unidentified drones buzzing the night skies have been spotted over New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York over the last month.

Robert W. Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, said the agency still can’t explain them. Some New England leaders have raised concerns about the lack of knowledge on these unknown floating machines.

Healey said that the Massachusetts State Police is working with the necessary authorities to uncover the cause to these drone sightings. Connecticut state Senator Tony Hwang said that the lack of information to the public about this matter was inexcusable.

Rep. Seth Magaziner speaks out on drone sightings

Rep. Seth Magaziner, who sits on the Homeland Security Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee, said in a video on social media platform X that most drone sightings can be explained by “pretty boring explanations” and do not appear to be the work of a bad actor.

As of Oct. 1, 791,597 drones have been registered in the U.S., according to the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly evenly divided between commercial and recreational use. Not all drones are registered, of course.

Can you shoot drones in Rhode Island?

But even if they annoy you, taking a shot at a hovering drone is illegal. The FAA considers it shooting at an aircraft, a federal crime.

Only law enforcement authorities can take action…