Swede Convicted for Operating Drone Under the Influence

A 55-year-old man from Sweden has been convicted for flying a drone while intoxicated, marking a significant legal precedent in the country. The incident occurred when the individual attempted to capture aerial footage during a vintage car event in Rättvik, located in the Dalarna region.

Authorities had imposed a temporary no-fly zone over the event site, prohibiting any drone activity in the area. While monitoring the compliance of this flight ban, police spotted the unauthorized drone in the air. Upon locating the pilot, they discovered that he exhibited signs of alcohol impairment.

Subsequent testing revealed that the man had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.69 percent, considerably above the legal limit. Despite the evidence, the defendant claimed that he was not operating the drone at the time and suggested that a friend was piloting it, though law enforcement was unable to identify this alleged companion.

A district court found sufficient evidence to establish that the man had indeed flown the drone while under the influence of alcohol, emphasizing the potential risks posed to public safety by his actions. As a result, he was sentenced to pay a fine of 32,000 Swedish Kronor, roughly equivalent to 2,792 Euros, which is to be paid in 80 daily installments of 400 Kronor each.

The court's ruling was based on legal standards similar to those applied to cases of driving under the influence of alcohol. In Sweden, the legal threshold for blood alcohol content while operating any vehicle, including drones, is set at 0.2 percent. Offenses involving levels above 1.0 percent are categorized as serious violations.

In contrast, regulations in Germany explicitly prohibit flying a drone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with a legal limit established at 0.5 percent.