diff --git a/src/pydocstyle/checker.py b/src/pydocstyle/checker.py
index 5f7847d5..294a8ce2 100644
--- a/src/pydocstyle/checker.py
+++ b/src/pydocstyle/checker.py
@@ -385,23 +385,6 @@ def check_backslashes(self, definition, docstring):
                 and not docstring.startswith(('r', 'ur'))):
             return violations.D301()
 
-    @check_for(Definition)
-    def check_unicode_docstring(self, definition, docstring):
-        r'''D302: Use u""" for docstrings with Unicode.
-
-        For Unicode docstrings, use u"""Unicode triple-quoted strings""".
-
-        '''
-        if 'unicode_literals' in definition.module.future_imports:
-            return
-
-        # Just check that docstring is unicode, check_triple_double_quotes
-        # ensures the correct quotes.
-        if docstring and sys.version_info[0] <= 2:
-            if not is_ascii(docstring) and not docstring.startswith(
-                    ('u', 'ur')):
-                return violations.D302()
-
     @staticmethod
     def _check_ends_with(docstring, chars, violation):
         """First line ends with one of `chars`.
@@ -453,13 +436,7 @@ def check_imperative_mood(self, function, docstring):  # def context
                 if check_word in IMPERATIVE_BLACKLIST:
                     return violations.D401b(first_word)
 
-                try:
-                    correct_forms = IMPERATIVE_VERBS.get(stem(check_word))
-                except UnicodeDecodeError:
-                    # This is raised when the docstring contains unicode
-                    # characters in the first word, but is not a unicode
-                    # string. In which case D302 will be reported. Ignoring.
-                    return
+                correct_forms = IMPERATIVE_VERBS.get(stem(check_word))
 
                 if correct_forms and check_word not in correct_forms:
                     best = max(
diff --git a/src/pydocstyle/violations.py b/src/pydocstyle/violations.py
index 44ff1949..f9f02f1e 100644
--- a/src/pydocstyle/violations.py
+++ b/src/pydocstyle/violations.py
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ def to_rst(cls) -> str:
 D300 = D3xx.create_error('D300', 'Use """triple double quotes"""',
                          'found {0}-quotes')
 D301 = D3xx.create_error('D301', 'Use r""" if any backslashes in a docstring')
-D302 = D3xx.create_error('D302', 'Use u""" for Unicode docstrings')
+D302 = D3xx.create_error('D302', 'Deprecated: Use u""" for Unicode docstrings')
 
 D4xx = ErrorRegistry.create_group('D4', 'Docstring Content Issues')
 D400 = D4xx.create_error('D400', 'First line should end with a period',
diff --git a/src/tests/test_cases/test.py b/src/tests/test_cases/test.py
index 3df3aba3..3d671e59 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_cases/test.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_cases/test.py
@@ -279,16 +279,6 @@ def exceptions_of_D301():
     """
 
 
-if sys.version_info[0] <= 2:
-    @expect('D302: Use u""" for Unicode docstrings')
-    def unicode_unmarked():
-        """Юникод."""
-
-    @expect('D302: Use u""" for Unicode docstrings')
-    def first_word_has_unicode_byte():
-        """あy."""
-
-
 @expect("D400: First line should end with a period (not 'y')")
 @expect("D415: First line should end with a period, question mark, "
         "or exclamation point (not 'y')")