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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's governor is calling for harsher penalties for anyone caught flying a drone over a wildfire after one unmanned aircraft forced firefighters to ground their aircraft last week.
KUTV reports (http://bit.ly/28W4JLD) Gov. Gary Herbert wants to make it a felony crime to fly a drone near a wildfire.
Utah lawmakers passed a law earlier this year making it a misdemeanor to fly the aircraft and interfere with firefighting efforts.
That offense carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and $2,500 fine.
If it was bumped up to a felony, violators could see fines double and go to prison for five years or more.
Herbert said firefighters lost a good chance to contain a fire in southwestern Utah last week when a drone flying overhead forced firefighting aircraft to land to avoid a collision.
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Information from: KUTV-TV, http://www.kutv.com/
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