The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that all drone owners will have to register their drones to fly them in the US. That means your gift may have a slight catch to it.

To encourage owners to register, the process will be free online for the next month, but after January 20, 2016, anyone wanting to fly a drone will have to pay the US government $5 for the privilege.

Who needs to register? Anyone flying a drone that weighs over 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds — which is pretty much every consumer drone that isn’t a microdrone. Larger drones need to be registered through the mail. Check out the FAA LIST to see if your drone is on it.

If you’re unsure how much your drone weighs, the FAA suggests using a kitchen scale to find out. If you don’t have a scale, the FAA has kindly informed us that two sticks of butter weighs slightly less than the lightest drones that have to be registered.

From the FAA FAQ page:

Can I fly a model aircraft or UAS over a stadium or at airshows or sporting events for hobby or recreation?
No. FAA guidance says that model aircraft flights should be flown a sufficient distance from populated areas.

Can news media fly a UAS to shoot stories or cover breaking news?
News media use of a UAS is not for hobby or recreational purposes, so FAA authorization is necessary.

That one was for me.

What is the penalty for failing to register?
Failure to register an aircraft may result in regulatory and criminal sanctions. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

Will an operator be required to have proof of registration while operating the UAS(unmanned aircraft system) ?
Yes. You will be required to have your FAA registration certificate in your possession when operating your unmanned aircraft.

Happy holidays!