49 USC § 46320 - Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s46320"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 46320 - Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "46320"
section_name: "Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft"
chapter_number: 463
chapter_name: "PENALTIES"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 114–190, title II, § 2205(a), July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 630.)"
---


# § 46320. Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response effort by operation of unmanned aircraft

**(a)** **In General.—** 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.

**(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)** **Compromise and Setoff.—**

**(1)** **Compromise.—** The United States Government may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section.

**(2)** **Setoff.—** 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.

**(d)** **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions apply:

**(1)** **Wildfire.—** The term “wildfire” has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act (42 U.S.C. 1856m).

**(2)** **Wildfire suppression.—** The term “wildfire suppression” means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 114–190, title II, § 2205(a), July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 630.)