49 U.S.C. § 46320 — Interference with wildfire suppression,

Page 1562 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 46320 Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically pro- vided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out as an Ef- fective Date of 2003 Amendment note under section 106 of this title. § 46320. Interference with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response ef- fort by operation of unmanned aircraft (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub- section (b), an individual who operates an un- manned 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 con- ducted by a unit or agency of the United States Government or of a State, tribal, or local gov- ernment (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 enforce- ment, or emergency response. (c) COMPROMISE AND SETOFF.— (1) COMPROMISE.—The United States Govern- ment 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 im- posed 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 ‘‘wild- fire suppression’’ means an effort to contain, extinguish, or suppress a wildfire. (Added Pub. L. 114–190, title II, § 2205(a), July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 630.) CHAPTER 465—SPECIAL AIRCRAFT JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES Sec. 46501. Definitions. 46502. Aircraft piracy. 46503. Interference with security screening per- sonnel. 46504. Interference with flight crew members and attendants. 46505. Carrying a weapon or explosive on an air- craft. 46506. Application of certain criminal laws to acts on aircraft. 46507. False information and threats. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, § 539(m), div. K, title I, § 1991(h)(2), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3371, 3645, made identical amendments, striking out item 46503 ‘‘Re- pealed’’. 2001—Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 114(b), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 623, added item 46503 ‘‘Interference with security screening personnel’’. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60003(b)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1970, substituted ‘‘Repealed’’ for ‘‘Death penalty sentencing procedure for aircraft piracy’’ in item 46503. § 46501. Definitions In this chapter— (1) ‘‘aircraft in flight’’ means an aircraft from the moment all external doors are closed following boarding— (A) through the moment when one exter- nal door is opened to allow passengers to leave the aircraft; or (B) until, if a forced landing, competent authorities take over responsibility for the aircraft and individuals and property on the aircraft. (2) ‘‘special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States’’ includes any of the following aircraft in flight: (A) a civil aircraft of the United States. (B) an aircraft of the armed forces of the United States. (C) another aircraft in the United States. (D) another aircraft outside the United States— (i) that has its next scheduled destina- tion or last place of departure in the United States, if the aircraft next lands in the United States; (ii) on which an individual commits an offense (as defined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) if the aircraft lands in the United States with the individual still on the air- craft; or (iii) against which an individual com- mits an offense (as defined in subsection (d) or (e) of article I, section I of the Con- vention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation) if the aircraft lands in the United States with the individual still on the aircraft. (E) any other aircraft leased without crew to a lessee whose principal place of business is in the United States or, if the lessee does not have a principal place of business, whose permanent residence is in the United States. (3) an individual commits an offense (as de- fined in the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) when the indi- vidual, when on an aircraft in flight— (A) by any form of intimidation, unlaw- fully seizes, exercises control of, or attempts to seize or exercise control of, the aircraft; or (B) is an accomplice of an individual re- ferred to in subclause (A) of this clause. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1240.)