Emergency Response Work
California drone bill would hit wildfire interference with $75,000 fines
AB 1749 would give California officials a civil way to act when drones slow firefighters, medics, police or military crews at an emergency scene.
California Assemblymember Diane Dixon’s AB 1749 would add a civil penalty for drones that interfere with fire suppression, rescue calls or other emergency work. The bill keeps a limited exception for authorized operators.
- AB 1749 targets drones that interfere with emergency crews at the scene.
- The bill would add a civil-law penalty to California’s existing criminal ban.
- Civil penalties could reach $75,000 for each violation.
- The measure includes exceptions for some authorized operators.
- Fire crews racing a wildfire in California could get a new legal shield from drones
Fire crews racing a wildfire in California could get a new legal shield from drones. Assemblymember Diane Dixon’s AB 1749 would make it unlawful to operate or use a drone at the scene of an emergency if it impedes firefighters, peace officers, medical personnel, military personnel or other responders doing fire suppression, law-enforcement or emergency response work.
The bill is aimed at the kind of interference that can cost crews time, visibility or room to move. It would add Section 1708.83 to the Civil Code, giving the state another way to respond when a drone gets in the way of an emergency scene.
A civil-law backstop
Existing law already makes it a crime to use a drone at an emergency scene to view the scene or emergency or military personnel and thereby impede responders. AB 1749 would layer civil liability on top of that, so the Attorney General, a county counsel or a city attorney could bring an action over the same conduct in civil court.
A prevailing plaintiff could recover civil penalties of up to $75,000 for each violation, along with injunctive relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The bill also preserves carveouts for people holding a federal Part 107 operational waiver or for jobs that require them to view the scene or activities.