Three bills criminalizing drone use that were pushed by Nevada County’s State Senator Ted Gaines have been vetoed by Governor Brown. The legislation would have provided penalities for flying drones over school grounds, prisons, and wildfires. One measure would have for possible jail time and increased fines for using drones that interfere with firefighting and emergency responders. Gaines says it was in response to increased reports of drone interference, sometimes resulting in the grounding of air tankers….

click to listen to Senator Gaines

The bill would also have sought granting civic immunity to any emergency responder who damages an unmanned aircraft in the course of firefighting, air ambulance, or search-and-rescue operations. In his veto message, Governor Brown says, quote, “each of these bills creates a new crime, usually by finding a novel way to characterize and criminalize conduct that is already prescribed”. Gaines says he’s not aware of such behavior being covered in the past…

click to listen to Senator Gaines

Gaines has also stated that he believes drones hold great promise for wildfire suppression where properly used by fire agencies.