Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · CHAPTER 2— AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR VEHICLES · § 40A

§ 40A. Operation of unauthorized unmanned aircraft over wildfires

210 words·~1 min read·/usc/title-18/section-40a

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)In General.— Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual who operates an unmanned aircraft and knowingly or recklessly interferes with a wildfire suppression, or law enforcement or emergency response efforts 1 related to a wildfire suppression, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
(b)Exceptions.— 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)Definitions.— In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Unmanned aircraft.— The term “unmanned aircraft” has the meaning given the term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
(2)Wildfire.— The term “wildfire” has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act (42 U.S.C. 1856m).
(3)Wildfire suppression.— The term “wildfire suppression” means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.
(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 382(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3320.)
Connectionstraces to 3
2 references not yet in our index
  • 1
  • 132 Stat. 3320
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 40A
Operation of unauthorized unmanned aircraft over wildfires
Cite1
Stat.132 Stat. 3320
Cites 5Cited by 0 across 0 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.