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A Swedish man has been convicted for flying a drone while under the influence.
He was fined 32,000 kronor ($6,440) for operating a drone during classic car week in Rättvik, a small community northwest of Stockholm.
Karin Hellmont, the chairman of the district court that sentenced the man, explained the penalty applied was equated with driving drunk. “It’s an aircraft, even if it flies on its own. It’s controlled by someone on the ground and can fall from a great height and harm someone.”
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An unidentified drone operator dropped paint on the grounds of the Russian embassy in Stockholm in November 2024, though no arrests were made in that case.
This is the first incident in Sweden involving a person being arrested for operating a drone while under the influence. However, there have been drone-related arrests in Sweden for other reasons. For example, a man was arrested for flying a drone over the residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden near Stockholm in January 2022.
Sweden has strict regulations on drone usage near sensitive sites, including the royal palace. Flying drones is prohibited over restricted areas such as nuclear power plants, prisons, nature reserves, military areas.
Drone flights are not allowed within 5 km of the palace without explicit permission.
In January 2022, there were reports of unauthorized drone sightings over nuclear facilities and the royal palace, which sparked fear and prompted investigations by Swedish authorities.
The Swedish Security Service investigates drone flights over nuclear plants and other critical infrastructure, considering them as potential interference with secret information.
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General drone regulations in Sweden include:
- Maximum flight altitude of 120 metres above ground level.
- Drones must be flown within visual range (500 metres).
- Operators must keep a reasonable distance from people and animals.
- Must be daytime flight only.
Unauthorized drone operations in restricted areas, such as military zones, nuclear power plants can result in fines. Violations may also lead to legal consequences, such as restrictions on drone licenses or additional penalties depending on the severity of the infraction.
Special permission is required from the Swedish Transport Agency to fly in restricted airspace. Drone operators must have a valid operator ID and a drone license for drones weighing more than 250 grams.
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