Flying a drone while drunk could land you a jail term in Japan as fears grow over accidents

OPERATING a drone while drunk may lead to up to a year in prison in Japan, after strict legislation was passed.

Fuelled by growing concerns of accidents and mishaps, Japan’s lower house of parliament passed a law to tightly control drone use in public.

Flying a drone weighing more than 200g while drunk could now result in a fine of up to 300,000 yen (£2,200), while users who perform stunts that could endanger the public – including sharp drops in crowded areas – could be fined up to 500,000 yen (£3,650). “We believe operating drones after consuming alcohol is as serious as [drink] driving,” a transport ministry official told AFP.

The new legislation is the latest in a series of attempts by officials to more closely regulate drone usage in Japan.

Laws passed last month also banned drones from flying above key landmarks, including parliamentary buildings, US military sites, 2020 Olympics venues and the Imperial Palace.

Japanese media have reported a string of drone-related concerns and mishaps in recent years, as the popu- larity of the devices has gathered pace.

Concerns include the issue of tourists flying drones above packed tourist areas such as Kyoto, while two years ago, six people were injured at a “robot festival” in Gifu Prefecture after a drone designed to shower children with sweets plunged to the ground.

Four years ago, a drone carrying radioactive traces landed on the roof of the prime minister’s Tokyo residence. Yasuo Yamamoto, an anti-nuclear protester, was handed a suspended twoyear jail sentence for the stunt.