Wildfire and Emergency Airspace Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2156
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-10-07
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Fires

First responders and emergency personnel

Forests, forestry, trees
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-10
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-635.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-10-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Wildfire and Emergency Airspace Protection Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly launch a drone for recreational purposes that recklessly interferes with disaster response or firefighting efforts. </p> <p>The legislation does not affect the use of drones launched for agricultural purposes. </p> <p>Violators are subject to a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2156 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 7, 2015 Mrs. Shaheen introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a criminal penalty for launching drones that interfere with fighting fires affecting Federal property or responding to disasters affecting interstate or foreign commerce, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire and Emergency Airspace Protection Act of 2015 . 2. Launching drones that interfere with fighting fires affecting Federal property or responding to disasters affecting interstate or foreign commerce (a) In general Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1370. Launching drones that interfere with fighting fires affecting Federal property or responding to disasters affecting interstate or foreign commerce (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term covered disaster means a disaster that affects interstate or foreign commerce; and (2) the term covered fire means a fire that threatens the real or personal property of the United States, or of any department or agency thereof. (b) Offense Whoever knowingly launches a drone for recreational purposes in a place near a covered fire or covered disaster, and is reckless as to whether that drone will interfere with fighting the fire or responding to the disaster, if the drone does interfere with that firefighting or disaster response, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. (c) Agricultural use of drones not affected For purposes of subsection (b), the term recreational purposes does not include agricultural purposes. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1370. Launching drones that interfere with fighting fires affecting Federal property or responding to disasters affecting interstate or foreign commerce. .