District 43 assembly member Mike Gatto and Sen. Ted Gaines wrote Senate Bill 167 and 168 intended to penalize drone operators for flying near the wildfire site in Sacramento, California.
Two bills, SB 167 and SB 168 were proposed by Mike Gatto and Sen. Ted Gaines in California. SB 167 ordained that it is unlawful to get in the way of the rescue team disturbing them in making efforts to put out the fire and saving residents' lives.
Notified on L.A. Times, the bill will raise the previous fine of $1,000 to $2,000, or even worse, up to $5,000 upon circumstances. Imprisonment will also be considered if flying of the drone was found unauthorized.
Successively, SB 168 allows rescue groups to hit drones flying in an active wildfire or in the middle of an evacuation and search-and-rescue procedures.
Sen. Gaines said in an email statement with KQED News, "People can replace drones but we can't replace a life. When our rescuers are risking their own lives to protect us, I want them thinking about safety, not liability."
Several instances before had annoyed the firefighters as drones tripping around wildfire areas. A week ago, a news from ABC 7 News articulated that the firefighting planes had been delayed and rerouted because five drones were seen blocking the 15 Freeway.
Pam Temmermand, a Fire Prevention specialist said the delay and the drone itself could lose lives, "It could be like a bird strike that you would have. A drone could hit an aircraft it could get sucked into an engine, you could have a mid-air disaster."
At this time, the North Fire has been controlled though it brushed off 4,250 acres and burnt out dozens of cars. Gatto affirmed that they are currently having studies about what these drones can do. They are considering the use of drones to extinguish the fire, and not just to document videos for YouTube.
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