Crimes: impeding emergency personnel.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as 'Died at Desk' means it did not become a law and therefore its provisions were never enacted.

Making it Illegal to Use Drones During Fire Emergencies

The bill makes operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during fire emergencies illegal and sets penalties.

What This Bill Does

• Makes operating or using a UAV, remote piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of a fire emergency illegal.
• Increases the penalty for this action from a misdemeanor to a felony.
• Sets imprisonment terms ranging from 16 months to 3 years in county jail.
• Imposes fines up to $10,000 for violating the law.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who use drones during fire emergencies will be affected by this bill.

Terms To Know

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

A flying machine that does not have a human pilot on board, often called a drone or remote piloted aircraft.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies to fire-related emergencies and does not cover other types of emergencies.
• It is unclear how this law will be enforced in practice.

Official Summary Text

AB 11, as introduced, Macedo.
Crimes: impeding emergency personnel.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to go to the scene of an emergency, or stop at the scene of an emergency, for the purpose of viewing the scene or the activities of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel, or military personnel coping with the emergency in the course of their duties during the time it is necessary for emergency vehicles or those personnel to be at the scene of the emergency or to be moving to or from the scene of the emergency for the purpose of protecting lives or property and thereby impeding police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law includes a person who operates or uses an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone that is at the scene of an emergency, regardless of the
person’s location.
This bill would make it a felony to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone, in violation of the provision mentioned above, during a fire-related emergency. The bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or for 2 or 3 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF