A man in Sweden has been convicted and fined $2,912 for flying a drone under the influence of alcohol. The case, believed to be the first of its kind in Sweden, has drawn significant attention.

Caught at a Classic Car Event

The 55-year-old man was flying his drone at a classic car event in Rättvik, a town in central Sweden. The area was designated as a temporary no-fly zone, making the act even more serious.

The police, who were monitoring the event with their own drone, spotted the unauthorized device and tracked down the operator.

Alcohol Level Exceeded Legal Limit

Upon testing, the man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.69 per 1,000 parts blood, well above Sweden’s legal limit of 0.2 per 1,000.

For context, Sweden has some of the strictest drink-driving laws in Europe:

  • Sweden – 0.2 BAC
  • UK – 0.8 BAC
  • Spain, France, Belgium – 0.5 BAC
  • Romania, Hungary – Zero tolerance

Man Denies, but Court Convicts

Initially, the man admitted to flying the drone but later denied being intoxicated, claiming his friend was the actual operator. However, the police found no evidence supporting this claim, and the court convicted him of drunk-drone flying.

The penalty: 32,000 SEK ($2,912), payable in daily fines of 400 SEK ($36.40) for 80 days.

Why Was He Convicted?

Karin Hellmont, the district court president, justified the ruling by stating:

“It is an aircraft. Even though it flies itself, it is controlled by someone on the ground and can fall from a height and injure someone.”

Legal Precedent & Future Implications

This landmark case sets a legal precedent for drone-related offenses in Sweden. Prosecutor Jenny Holden Nyström stated:

“I have not seen a case like this before. I am satisfied with the verdict.”

With drones becoming more common, countries may tighten regulations on their use, particularly regarding intoxicated operation.