Anyone purchasing a drone in the U.S. may soon have to register the unmanned aerial device with the Department of Transportation.
The federal government is expected to announce the new registration regulations Monday, NBC News reports. A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation confirmed the plan to BuzzFeed News, saying there would be a formal announcement on Monday.
NBC notes that close encounters between drones and airplanes coming in and out of some of the country’s largest airports have concerned officials. In July, a drone came within 100 feet of a plane carrying 159 people that was preparing to arrive at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the network, much closer than the recommended 1,000 feet of distance.
The Department of Transportation will reportedly collaborate with the drone industry to establish the registration process, which could go into effect by late December.
U.S. Government to Require Drone Registration, Reports Say