UK – Drone legislation: use, restrictions and enforcement

The government is to consult on new measures to prevent the misuse of drones, including on-the-spot fines and the ability to seize them if necessary.

The new measures are intended to ensure drones are being used safely in a market set to grow rapidly over the next decade.

Drones have the potential to bring great benefits to the UK, and with the industry predicted by PwC to be worth £42 billion to the UK by 2030, creating a blueprint for safe and secure use now is crucial to prepare for the future.

The measures in the consultation launched today (26 July 2018) are part of a wider programme of new drone legislation and will shape the content of a draft Drones Bill due to be published later this year.

Proposed measures include:

• police issuing fixed penalty notices to those disregarding drone rules
• using new counter-drone technology to protect public events and critical national infrastructure and stop contraband from reaching prisons
• introducing minimum age restrictions for drone owners in addition to the new tests they will need to take
• proposals for regulating and mandating the use of ‘apps’ on which pilots would file flight plans ahead of take-off

Policy proposals for safer use of drones plus powers to police for enforcement.

This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 17 September 2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drone-legislation-use-restrictions-and-enforcement