Should the proposed rule changes be codified into law, drone owners of vehicles over 250g will not only be required to register their device, but also pass a knowledge test as well as purchasing liability insurance. Furthermore, it is considering imposing an age limit of 16 for UAVs over the 250g limit, lighter ‘toy’ drones restricted to individuals of 14 years of age and above.
In the past year, there have been dozens of warnings issued about illegal drone use in national parks. For instance, in Banff National Park, there 26 warnings this year, with the operators said to be unaware of the rules in place about UAV use. Because the regulation of UAVs is not fully in the public consciousness, warnings have been preferred over fines because they help to educate the operators of drones over their proper use.
This suggests that if the stricter rules come into common practice, the primary challenge will be to educate and engage the public, bringing awareness and clarity to the rules.
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