{"identifier":"/us/usc/t49/s46320","title":49,"num":"\u00a7\u202f46320.","heading":"Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft","text":"\u00a7\u202f46320.\nInterference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft\n(a)\nIn General.\u2014\nExcept 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.\n(b)\nExceptions.\u2014\nThis 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.\n(c)\nCompromise and Setoff.\u2014\n(1)\nCompromise.\u2014\nThe United States Government may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section.\n(2)\nSetoff.\u2014\nThe 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.\n(d)\nDefinitions.\u2014\nIn this section, the following definitions apply:\n(1)\nWildfire.\u2014\nThe term \u201cwildfire\u201d has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act (\n42 U.S.C. 1856m\n(2)\nWildfire suppression.\u2014\nThe term \u201cwildfire suppression\u201d means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t49/s46320.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f46320."},{"t":"heading","text":"Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In General.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"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.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Exceptions.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"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.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Compromise and Setoff.\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/c/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Compromise.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"The United States Government may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/c/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Setoff.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"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.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/d","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(d)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Definitions.\u2014"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In this section, the following definitions apply:"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/d/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Wildfire.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"The term \u201cwildfire\u201d has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act (","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"42 U.S.C. 1856m","href":"/us/usc/t42/s1856m","tail":")."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t49/s46320/d/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Wildfire suppression.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"The term \u201cwildfire suppression\u201d means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}