Criminal Liability Strengthened for Crimes Committed with Drones and Other Airborne Devices
As of July 10, amendments to the Criminal Law have entered into force, increasing liability for criminal offenses committed using unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, and other devices that move in airspace. The use of such devices will now be considered an aggravating circumstance, allowing courts to impose harsher penalties.
On July 10, amendments to Latvia's Criminal Law took effect, significantly increasing penalties for crimes involving devices that move in airspace, such as drones, balloons, or meteorological probes. The changes affect several articles, including those on contraband, illegal movement of goods across the border, and illicit trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products.
The new regulation introduces a qualifying feature – committing a criminal offense using a device that moves in airspace. This means such actions are now considered an aggravating circumstance. For example, in the case of contraband committed with a drone, the maximum penalty can reach ten years of imprisonment, along with confiscation of property and up to three years of probation supervision.
Lawmakers noted that the amendments were drafted in response to a growing trend of criminals using these devices, which pose additional threats – they endanger air traffic safety, human life and health, and make crime detection more difficult. As technology evolves, the law does not provide an exhaustive list of devices, ensuring the regulation applies to equipment developed in the future.
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