Crimes: impeding emergency personnel.
- Makes operating drones during fire emergencies a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
- Imposes fines up to $10,000 for drone interference with emergency responders during fires.
- Applies to all drone operators regardless of their physical location from the emergency scene.
Assembly Member Macedo's legislation elevates penalties for drone operations that interfere with fire-related emergency responses, transforming what is currently a misdemeanor into a felony offense under California law. The measure establishes prison terms of 16 months to three years and fines up to $10,000 for operating unmanned aerial vehicles at emergency scenes during fire incidents.
The bill maintains existing misdemeanor penalties for other forms of interference with emergency personnel, including physically going to emergency scenes to observe first responder activities or impeding lifeguards performing rescue duties. It preserves current law's broad definition of emergency situations, encompassing fires, explosions, airplane crashes, flooding, toxic spills, and other natural or human-caused events that pose risks to people or property.
Under the measure's administrative provisions, local agencies would not receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing the new felony classification, as the expenses fall under constitutional exemptions for changes to criminal penalties. The bill requires a majority vote for passage and would take effect immediately upon enactment.
 Alexandra MacedoR Assemblymember | Bill Author |  Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
- Makes operating drones during fire emergencies a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
- Imposes fines up to $10,000 for drone interference with emergency responders during fires.
- Applies to all drone operators regardless of their physical location from the emergency scene.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Macedo's legislation elevates penalties for drone operations that interfere with fire-related emergency responses, transforming what is currently a misdemeanor into a felony offense under California law. The measure establishes prison terms of 16 months to three years and fines up to $10,000 for operating unmanned aerial vehicles at emergency scenes during fire incidents.
The bill maintains existing misdemeanor penalties for other forms of interference with emergency personnel, including physically going to emergency scenes to observe first responder activities or impeding lifeguards performing rescue duties. It preserves current law's broad definition of emergency situations, encompassing fires, explosions, airplane crashes, flooding, toxic spills, and other natural or human-caused events that pose risks to people or property.
Under the measure's administrative provisions, local agencies would not receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing the new felony classification, as the expenses fall under constitutional exemptions for changes to criminal penalties. The bill requires a majority vote for passage and would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Alexandra MacedoR Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted |