Poll Finds $2,000 Drone Fine Too Low After Lake Louise Helicopter Near-Miss

When Bow Valley Insider asked readers whether a $2,000 fine was appropriate for a drone flight that overlapped with an avalanche-control helicopter near Lake Louise, a clear majority said it was not.

In the poll, 178 of 292 respondents, about 61%, selected “No” when asked if the penalty matched the seriousness of the situation. The comments that followed showed a strong and consistent theme. Many felt the fine did not reflect the potential danger to helicopter crews, rescuers, and others working in the air.

“It should be much higher. We’re talking about potential loss of life. It should be closer to $10,000,” one reader wrote.

Another called the fine “a slap on the wrist,” adding that “people in those helicopters are putting their lives at risk to help others, and thoughtless drone operators are endangering everyone.”

Several readers said penalties need to be high enough to outweigh the incentive to capture dramatic footage for social media. “Some of these law breakers will risk a small fine because they will make more money posting it on TikTok or Instagram,” one comment said. “Start at $5,000.”

A common question was why, when federal regulations allow fines of up to $25,000, recent cases in the mountain parks have resulted in penalties in the hundreds or low thousands. “If this is not the kind of situation where the maximum should apply, then when would it ever be used?” one reader asked.

Others focused on respect for emergency operations. “One is doing necessary, dangerous work. The other is playing,” a commenter wrote. “You play in a no play zone, you pay. More than $2,000.”

Many called for consequences beyond fines, including automatic seizure of the drone, park bans, and escalating penalties for repeat offences. “Confiscate the drone and issue a real deterrent,” one reader said. “Education has only gone so far. Now it needs enforcement that actually hurts.”

Some also raised concerns about wildlife and the cumulative effect of increasing drone use. “Can you imagine if it was open season for drones,” one comment read. “The disturbance to animals would be overwhelming, and the risk to helicopters and rescuers would only grow.”

A smaller group of respondents said the $2,000 fine was appropriate or at least a step in the right direction. But even among those, several noted that consistency and visibility of enforcement matter. “The fine needs to really hurt to be effective and to deter others,” one reader wrote. “Well publicized, serious penalties might finally get the message across.”

Taken together, the poll and comments suggest that a majority of Bow Valley Insider readers view illegal drone use near emergency aircraft not as a minor infraction, but as a serious safety issue that they believe deserves stronger consequences than have typically been imposed.