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California needs to pour cold water on the idiots flying drones so close to California wildfires that they threaten lives and drive away aircraft trying to put out the blazes.
But wait — the governor is not unmindful of the dangers of drones. He did sign a bill outlawing paparazzi from flying them over private properties. Rich celebrities are now better protected.
What a relief,China Jerseys. Let those firefighters and school kids fend for themselves.
Brown's reasoning mystifies us,cheap nfl jerseys.
California firefighters have been forced to ground their aircraft at least four times this year because of drones. In the San Bernardino Mountains fire in July, five drones were spotted hovering over the flames. They shut down airborne firefighting.
Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, get it, but apparently Gov. Jerry Brown does not.
Brown, on the other hand, just vetoed three bills that would have increased penalties for flying drones over California wildfires, prisons and elementary schools. The bills called for up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,NFL Jerseys Cheap,000 for interfering with firefighters in the line of duty.
Boxer on Wednesday proposed the Safe Drone Act,Discount NFL Jerseys, making it a misdemeanor subject to a fine and a year in prison to operate a drone within 2 miles of an airport or of firefighters battling a fire on federal land. Garamendi had introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives in August.
Hobbyists flying drones near airports is also on the rise. According to a federal report released last week by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, nearly 1,000 incidents have been reported nationwide — one in five in California, more than any other state. (We do like our gadgets.) San Jose's airport had the second most incidents in the state (18), trailing only Los Angeles (42).
"Over the last several decades California's criminal code has grown to more than 5,000 provisions covering every conceivable form of human misbehavior," the governor wrote. "During the same period, our jail and prison populations have exploded. Before we keep going down this road, I think we should pause and reflect how our system of criminal justice could be made more human, more just and cost-effective."
This is particularly true of firefighting. Pilots already risk their lives dealing with the weight of fire retardants and the unpredictable air currents created by out-of-control fires. A collision with even a small hobby drone could be deadly, and having to avoid them risks lives on the ground.
All that is true,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, but it's irrelevant. Drone misuse is a new problem that our laws do not adequately address,NFL Jerseys Outlet, and it threatens not only property but lives.
San Jose Mercury News on drones interfering with firefighting efforts:
One-third of the California incidents involved a drone flying within 500 feet of an aircraft. Airline pilots have reported drones as high as 4,000 feet, interfering with landing approaches.
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