§ 15A-300.4.  Use of an unmanned aircraft system near a forest fire prohibited.

(a) Prohibition. - No person, entity, or State agency shall use an unmanned aircraft system within either a horizontal distance of 3,000 feet or a vertical distance of 3,000 feet from any forest fire within the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Forest Service. For purposes of this section, the horizontal distance shall extend outward from the furthest exterior perimeter of the forest fire or forest fire control lines.

(b) Exceptions. - Unless the use of the unmanned aircraft system is otherwise prohibited under State or federal law, the prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A person operating an unmanned aircraft system with the consent of the official in responsible charge of management of the forest fire.

(2) A law enforcement officer using an unmanned aircraft system in accordance with G.S. 15A-300.1(c).

(3) A North Carolina Forest Service employee or a person acting under the direction of a North Carolina Forest Service employee.

(c) Penalties. - The following penalties apply for violations of this section:

(1) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use is the proximate cause of the death of another person is guilty of a Class D felony and shall also be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another person is guilty of a Class E felony and shall also be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(3) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use is the proximate cause of serious physical or mental injury to another person is guilty of a Class F felony and shall also be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(4) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use interferes with emergency operations and such interference proximately causes damage to any real or personal property or any tree, wood, underwood, timber, garden, crops, vegetables, plants, lands, springs, or any other matter or thing growing or being on the land is guilty of a Class G felony and shall also be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(5) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use interferes with emergency operations is guilty of a Class H felony and shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(6) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use is the proximate cause of physical or mental injury to another person is guilty of a Class I felony and shall also be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(7) A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system in violation of subsection (a) of this section and such use is not covered under another provision of law providing greater punishment is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(d) Seizure, Forfeiture, and Disposition of Seized Property. - A law enforcement agency may seize an unmanned aircraft system and any attached property used in violation of this section. An unmanned aircraft system used in violation of this section and seized by a law enforcement agency is subject to forfeiture and disposition pursuant to G.S. 18B-504. An innocent owner or holder of a security interest applying to the court for release of the unmanned aircraft system, in accordance with G.S. 18B-504(h), shall also provide proof of ownership or security interest and written certification that the unmanned aircraft system will not be returned to the person who was charged with the violation of subsection (a) of this section.

(e) Definitions. - For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Physical or mental injury. - Cuts, scrapes, bruises, or other physical or mental injury that does not constitute serious bodily injury or serious physical or mental injury.

(2) Serious bodily injury. - Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, or that causes serious permanent disfigurement, coma, a permanent or protracted condition that causes extreme pain, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, or that results in prolonged hospitalization.

(3) Serious physical or mental injury. - Physical or mental injury that causes great pain and suffering. (2023-63, s. 10(a).)