California fire authorities arrest hobby drone operator for interfering with Placer County firefight

LosDosMonitos · Jul 15, 2016

http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/newsreleases/2016/2016TrailheadDroneRelease.pdf

tcope · Jul 15, 2016

About time.

snerd · Jul 15, 2016

Dude was 57 years old! Age sure doesn't bring adulthood.

captainmilehigh · Jul 15, 2016

Geez. I don't know what the fine or penalty is for this, but it needs to be hefty enough to discourage this practice. Plus, the downside is all the public sees in these instances is 'bad drones' and not the positive side of the hobby. One step forward, two steps back.

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Monica · Jul 15, 2016

That was just plain dumb!

MPPilot · Jul 15, 2016

In addition to any jail time and/or fine, he may be liable for the cost of the grounded aircraft and any additional damage that was caused due to the delay. Easily six figures or more.

CactusJackSlade · Jul 16, 2016

Wow... $10,000 bail - that should be publicized more so others will think twice... http://www.placer.ca.gov/jail/jailpdf/24hrbookandrelease.pdf (page 109)

Redevil75 · Jul 16, 2016

CactusJackSlade said:
Wow... $10,000 bail - that should be publicized more so others will think twice... http://www.placer.ca.gov/jail/jailpdf/24hrbookandrelease.pdf (page 109)

Can't see more than 69 pages.

JamesH · Jul 16, 2016

captainmilehigh said:
Geez. I don't know what the fine or penalty is for this, but it needs to be hefty enough to discourage this practice. Plus, the downside is all the public sees in these instances is 'bad drones' and not the positive side of the hobby. One step forward, two steps back.

Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots

Not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, but my brief research on the penalty says this:
"...punishable by a maximum of 6 months in jail and/or a fine of $1000."

RadRich · Jul 16, 2016

This is the guy: Facebook

This is him shooting from his hot tub, lol:

FORESTHILL (CBS13) – For the first time, Cal Fire law enforcement officers have arrested a man accused of interfering with firefighting operations with a drone.

Eric Wamser, 57, of Foresthill was arrested Friday for allegedly flying his unmanned hobby aircraft over the Trailhead Fire. The incident reportedly forced firefighters to ground aircraft rather than risk a collision, according to a statement from Cal Fire spokesperson Daniel Berlant.

Information on social media led investigators to Wamser who was booked into the Placer County Jail on the charge of interfering with firefighting operations.

Cal Fire Arrests Drone Pilot For Flying Near Trailhead Fire