§ 46320. Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft

• (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual who operates an unmanned aircraft and in so doing knowingly or recklessly interferes with a wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $20,000.
• (b) This section does not apply to the operation of an unmanned aircraft conducted by a unit or agency of the United States Government or of a State, tribal, or local government (including any individual conducting such operation pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered into with the unit or agency) for the purpose of protecting the public safety and welfare, including firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency response.
• (c)
  • (1) The United States Government may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section.
  • (2) The United States Government may deduct the amount of a civil penalty imposed or compromised under this section from the amounts the Government owes the person liable for the penalty.
• (d) In this section, the following definitions apply:
  • (1) The term “wildfire” has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1856m ).
  • (2) The term “wildfire suppression” means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.