New regulations unveiled this week will require all operators of small drones (weighing between .55 and 55 pounds) to register their names and addresses with the FAA. The government will issue registration numbers that will need to be displayed on every drone owned by an individual. With the Consumer Technology Association estimating that 400,000 drones will be purchased this holiday season, the time is ripe for new regulations of recreational drones.

The FAA’s regulations for drone use remain the same: Drones must be under 55 pounds, must be flown within line-of-sight and below 400 feet, must be flown at least five miles away from an airport, and should not be flown near stadiums or over large crowds.

The FAA indicated the biggest focus of this new requirement is communicating to drone operators that drones operate on the same playing field as any other aircraft. Despite the relative inexperience of most drone pilots, the FAA indicated, drones can create safety risks to other aircraft that place them on par with planes or helicopters, and their operators are to be considered pilots from the moment of takeoff.

The registration will cost $5 per operator, though the FAA is waiving the fee for the first 30 days of registration, which begins Dec. 21. Egregious violations of the new registration requirements can impose civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and three years in prison. Anyone 13 and older can register as an operator, and younger children are permitted to operate drones with adult supervision and registration.

The registration process is the first step by the federal government to ensure compliance with the FAA’s guidelines for the operation of drones in domestic airspace. It is also an affirmative move toward stronger regulation of drone use, no matter who is at the controls — whether it be a public agency, a newsgathering organization, or just the kid living three houses down.