Local agencies: civil penalty for impeding emergency response with drone.

Assembly Member Dixon's proposal would authorize local agencies to levy civil penalties up to $75,000 on drone operators who impede emergency response personnel at incident scenes. The measure creates a new enforcement mechanism beyond existing criminal penalties for drone interference with emergency operations.

The legislation establishes specific conditions under which local agencies can impose these penalties. The provisions apply when drone operations interfere with firefighters, law enforcement, medical personnel, military personnel, or other emergency responders carrying out fire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response duties. Operators who hold a Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Operational Waiver would be exempt from these penalties.

The measure builds upon current state law, which already criminalizes drone operation that impedes emergency personnel and protects local agencies from liability for damage to drones interfering with emergency operations. By adding civil penalty authority, the bill provides local agencies with an additional tool to address drone interference while maintaining alignment with federal aviation regulations through the waiver exemption.