In accordance with federal law all drone owners must register their craft with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) beginning Dec. 21, 2015.
Drone registration will be web-based and available on the FAA website starting Dec. 21. Registration will be free for the first month. After Jan. 20 there will be a $5 fee.
Drones fall into the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) category for registration purposes on the FAA website. According to the site, UAS have “communication links and components that control the small unmanned aircraft.”
UAS that need to be registered are over 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds. The weight requirement generally excludes small toys. Drones over 55 pounds need to be registered using a paper based system. More information can be found on the aircraft registry page of the FAA website.
Those operating drones outside of their homes will need to have proof of registration on their person. Failure to register may result in both civil and criminal fines and penalties.
The FAA cites safety and privacy as concerns that led to the new registration law.
Last month City Council passed an ordinance that will ban drones in any Ocean City airspace from Dec. 2, 2015 until Sept. 8, 2016.
Similar concerns of maintaining safety and privacy as technology rapidly develops were voiced during the decision making process. Supporters and opponents of the ban compromised, bringing the ordinance down from an outright ban to a nine-month ban.
