A New Jersey state senator is calling for a limited state of emergency that would ban all use of drones until authorities can provide answers about the devices that have been hovering over Garden State communities in recent weeks.

Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-21) said Tuesday the ban should stand “until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.” Gov. Phil Murphy said the drone sightings were being investigated.

So far, eight New Jersey counties have seen drones flying overhead at night, as early as the week before Thanksgiving.

Last week, Murphy posted on social media that he had met with Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, members of the federal Department of Homeland Security, State Police and members of the Garden State’s congressional delegation to “discuss reported drone activity over parts of northern and central New Jersey to discuss”. “

“We are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating closely with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter,” the second-term Democrat wrote, noting that there is no known threat to the public.

Sightings of the buzzing drones over New Jersey communities have been reported for weeks, drawing the attention of not only local law enforcement but also the FBI. Last week, Staten Island became the target of the eyes in the sky.

The governor of New Jersey is trying to get to the bottom of all these mysterious drone sightings. News 4 New York’s Adam Harding reports.

New Jersey residents Phil Doyle and his wife Maureen were walking outside to their back patio Tuesday evening when they heard a loud humming noise coming from upstairs. Doyle said they saw dozens of flying objects, believed to be drones, coming from the direction of Picatinny Arsenal and heading northwest.

“One goes over and then another. It’s not two or three a night, but 30 or 50 a night. They have lights so you can see them,” he said.

Doyle estimates that the dozens of drones that flew over his Oak Ridge home were about the size of his dining room table.

“Why are they here suddenly? What is the basis for the sudden appearance of these drones? It’s been around for a while and now all this activity is happening. So who is behind it?” he asks.

Picatinny Arsenal officials say they have reviewed the reports.

“While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remains unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activity,” Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal garrison commander, said in a statement on Tuesday .

Bonham said there were at least 11 confirmed reports of drone sightings and in another six cases police received a report but were unable to confirm it. This applies to the dates from November 13th to December 6th, he said.