Bill To Penalize Drone Operators Near Wildfires Passes Senate
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Legislation endorsed by Riverside County supervisors that would establish fines for drone operators whose remote-controlled aircraft disrupt aerial firefighting efforts received unanimous approval in the state Senate on Tuesday.
The Riverside Board of Supervisors voted in July to back the bill, which mandates fines of up to $5,000 and six months in jail for anyone who flies an unmanned aerial vehicle in the vicinity of aircraft deployed to battle any type of fire.
"To think that someone would interfere with firefighting or emergency response situations to get a sneak peek or to post a drone video on YouTube is an outrage that is deserving of punishment and condemnation," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Redding. "I'm pleased that my colleagues agreed, and I look forward to SB 168's continued support as it makes its way through the Assembly."
The proposed legislation specifies that anyone who operates an "unmanned aircraft system in a manner that prevents or delays the extinguishment of a fire, or in any way interferes with the efforts of firefighters to control, contain, or extinguish a fire" is guilty of a misdemeanor.
"This penalty will help ensure our skies are safe," the senator said. "Public safety should be our absolute number one priority."
An analysis of the proposal by the Senate Judiciary Committee noted that federal legislation from 2012 established parameters for the use of commercial drones, but offered little in the way of hard rules for flying private UAVs, which are loosely regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency prohibits drones around airports or in areas with temporary flight restrictions.
Private UAVs have disrupted firefighting operations several times this year, including during a wildfire last month along Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County.
"It's absolutely maddening to think operations intended to knock down wildfires are being thwarted, with the threat of property loss and lives endangered," Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington said last month. "Planes are being grounded from fighting fires because of drones."
Gaines' bill would also immunize emergency responders from any liability for the destruction of an unauthorized drone during firefighting or medical support operations.
The bill has until Sept. 11 to be ratified in the current legislative session. The bill is now bound for committee hearings in the Assembly.
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