ASSEMBLYMAN MAYES’ BILL WOULD TARGET ILLEGAL DRONE USE

Assemblyman Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley is co-author of a bill that makes flying a drone over a fire a criminal offense. Drones grounded firefighting airplanes over the Mill 2 Fire in Yucaipa last week and the Lake Fire near Pioneertown last month, which allowed the fires to spread. Mayes said Assembly Bill 167 will keep aerial vehicles out of fire zones by creating penalties of up to $5,000 for violations. “This bill sends a strong message: flying drones in fire zones is dangerous.” U.S. Representative Paul Cook of Yucca Valley recently authored a bill that makes flying drones over fires a federal offense.