ABX1 11: Crimes: impeding emergency personnel.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to go to the scene of an emergency, or stop at the scene of an emergency, for the purpose of viewing the scene or the activities of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel, or military personnel coping with the emergency in the course of their duties during the time it is necessary for emergency vehicles or those personnel to be at the scene of the emergency or to be moving to or from the scene of the emergency for the purpose of protecting lives or property and thereby impeding police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law includes a person who operates or uses an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone that is at the scene of an emergency, regardless of the persons location.

This bill would make it a felony to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone, in violation of the provision mentioned above, during a fire-related emergency. The bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or for 2 or 3 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.