Czech Republic Plans Tougher Rules on Drones Around Critical Infrastructure

The Czech Republic is planning tougher measures against unauthorised drone flights over critical infrastructure. New legislation would give operators and security authorities significantly greater powers to intervene.

The Czech government plans to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure against unauthorised drone flights. The Ministry of the Interior, together with the Ministry of Transport, has presented a draft law that would give operators of critical facilities and the police greater powers to act against drones entering restricted zones.

The draft was submitted for interministerial consultation on Tuesday. The centrepiece of the proposed legislation is the introduction of clearly defined protection zones around critical infrastructure such as power stations, airports and other particularly sensitive facilities. If a drone enters one of these zones without authorisation, security personnel would, under specified conditions, be entitled to intercept or neutralise it.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the new legislation responds to the growing number of drone-related incidents near critical infrastructure. Under the current legal framework, operators and security authorities are, in certain situations, unable to respond to such threats quickly and appropriately.

Foto: DroneMap

“In recent years, the number of incidents involving unauthorised drones operating near critical infrastructure has increased significantly. The current legislation does not allow operators and security personnel to respond adequately and appropriately in some situations,” Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said.

The aim of the legislation is to establish a clear legal framework for dealing with security-related drone incidents. At the same time, it is intended to ensure that lawfully operated drones are not subject to disproportionate restrictions. Any intervention would have to comply with the principle of proportionality and ensure the protection of life, health and property.

Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik also described the proposed legislation as a necessary response to emerging security risks. Operators of critical infrastructure needed effective tools to respond promptly to potentially dangerous drones, while state oversight of such measures would remain in place.

The authorities also refer drone pilots to the Letejte zodpovědně (Fly responsibly) information platform and the official DroneMap application. In the Czech Republic, the app provides the official map of all geographical zones where drone flights are prohibited or subject to specific restrictions.