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A drone soars Tuesday high above the Idaho State Police building on Wilbur Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. ISP troopers demonstrated for local media how they are now using drones in the course of their investigations.

- ISP owns six DJI Phantom 4 Quadrocopters that cost $1,500 per unit.

- Drones have been used by ISP throughout the state for nearly a year.

- ISP operates the drones within legal constraints, which may require obtaining a search warrant.

- All information gathered is subject to rules of evidence and ISP evidence handling procedures.

- Thirteen ISP Troopers around the state are licensed by the FAA to operate them.

- After becoming compliant with FAA rules and internal procedures, ISP Troopers use drones for several public-safety purposes to include:

- Crash scene investigations - drones have helped us expedite these to get traffic flowing again

- Various crime scene investigations, which could include surveillance

- Search and rescue

- Hazardous materials situations

- Support to other agencies