Maryland U.S. attorney and FBI warn drone operators about temporary flight restrictions during SAIL250

Kelly Hayes, Maryland’s U.S. attorney, and Jimmy Paul, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Baltimore Field Office, issued a public safety advisory warning drone pilots against flying near Baltimore’s SAIL250 events.

The pair said the federal government often imposes temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) around special events and sensitive locations "to keep the public safe and to protect critical infrastructure." "Flying in these areas isn't just dangerous, it's a federal crime," they said.

Why it matters: The advisory lays out criminal penalties for violating TFRs and provides practical tools for compliance. "Violations can result in criminal fines up to $100,000, a year in prison, and seizure of your drone," the speakers said, and they urged pilots to confirm airspace restrictions before flying.

Hayes and Paul directed drone operators to check restrictions using the FAA-approved B4UFLY app or the FAA’s TFR portal at tfr.faa.gov and to report unsafe or suspicious drone activity to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. "Fly smart, fly safe," they concluded.

The advisory is informational rather than a formal enforcement action; it summarizes existing restrictions and gives contact information for reporting. It does not announce a specific TFR for a particular date in the transcript.