Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Wildfire and Emergency Airspace Protection Act of 2015”.
Wildfire and Emergency Airspace Protection Act of 2015
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.
Sec. 2 Launching drones that interfere with fighting fires affecting Federal property or responding to disasters affecting interstate or foreign commerce
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.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections for chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: