It is not clear why there have been so many drone sightings at night in the Northeast during the past month. People believe they are seeing increased drone activity, and these unexplained sightings upset them, which is hardly surprising. But we can change the policy on drones. What is happening now is not inevitable and does not have to become the new normal. Congress can regulate the skies to match voters’ preferences.

Coastal residents from Maryland to Connecticut have been reporting unusual lights floating in the night sky. The sheer number of these drones, sometimes reported to be in the thousands, has prompted hundreds of calls to law enforcement officials and elected representatives.