FAA Unwraps Drone Rules for the Holidays
Fearing as many as a million new drones might land under Christmas trees this year, the Obama administration will require consumers to register their craft — and pay a small fee some lambaste as a “drone tax” — by early next year.
The new rules, unveiled by the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday, are meant to help the government as it struggles to contend with an increasingly crowded airspace — and thwart a rash of incidents, from drones buzzing planes to crashing on the White House lawn, that pose new threats to safety and security.
Under the plan, the FAA requires drones purchased before Dec. 21 to be registered by February 2016; any drones purchased after the December cutoff date must be registered immediately. All drone owners will have to pay a $5 fee, though the FAA said it will waive the cost for the first 30 days in order to encourage consumers to register.
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Each Camera Drone package includes a small bit of irony at no extra charge as guns still do not yet fall under any such general registration plan at point of purchase in most states.