The penalties for leaving a campfire unattended or not fully extinguished in grasslands or a forest just became stiffer in Colorado under a new state law that went into effect Sunday.
, passed during the 2018 legislative session, violators will be hit with a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $750, six months in jail or both.
That’s a steep increase from the $50 fine that came with leaving a campfire unattended or not fully extinguished before.
“We realized that the penalty for leaving a fire unattended was ridiculously low,” state Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Dillon, said on Monday.
Taking effect in August, House Bill 1314 will bar people from obstructing first responders by flying a drone into or near a wildfire or other emergency situations in Colorado.
Violators could face a hefty fine or even jail time under that measure, which also passed during the 2018 legislative session.
Already this summer, officials have complained about . Unmanned aerial vehicles can down helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Legislation similar to House Bill 1314, but which would make flying a drone over a wildfire a federal felony, is being considered in Congress.