Are there any known incidents of a plane being damaged from 'drone' impact, or any crashes attributed to 'drone strikes'?
I sure haven't heard of one yet. But it seems that anything new, the bureaucracy does a mad search to find a reason to regulate, license, and get fees. I just don't know how I've managed to remain alive all the years I have without gov't taking full control of my life.

Government agencies cripple or kill everything they touch. Inventions are one of the major casualties.

Just a thought; RC's (remote controlled) are not new. The first RC planes became a hobby about the mid 60's and really picked up through the 70's. The only thing that has changed is the shape and that the military finally caught on to the idea that they could be weaponized (after spending billions in development when they could have simply gone down to the local Heathkit store).

After 50 years, our investigative reporters are now making people aware that they exist, so obviously there are more sightings. Since all news is owned and controlled by large corporations; my guess is that someone wants them regulated because they are afraid of them, justified or not. People are often afraid of what they don't understand and who understands Geeks and Engineers, but other Geeks and Engineers. FYI: the British released a Intelligence Report last week citing that Technical people, Engineers, and certain Hobby activities are the "Greatest Terror Threat We Face Today".

If every possible danger were alleviated by the government, we'd all be prisoners in solitary confinement. It would be a boring, miserable, uneventful, unproductive life, but we'd be safe. It's called reductio ad absurdum. Take a concept, string it out to the nth degree and see what you come up with. It often shows the absurdities of government actions as in this case.

Wait!
Aren't drones included as arms under the 2nd amendment?

I forgot to ask the question...when will the government begin registering laser pointers?

It seems that there have been many more instances of laser strikes than of drone avoidances.

It is the epitome of "Minority Repot". Move in on the thought of what could happen.

OK, so they get the drones registered. Now what? How is that going to make anything safer (except for their jobs)?

I once invented a replacement for the supercharger and the turbo for cars and trucks, The prototype worked quite well and also gave a good fuel saving on the car I tried it on, Needless to say I could not get it on the market mainly to the attitude of "We've done it this way for fifty years why should we change?"

13 year olds are considered emancipated adults in the eyes of this law? (Parents are liable for those UNDER 13)... I can see it now...

Sorry, Mr. & Mrs Jones, we're fining your 13 year old Johnny $250,000 and putting him in the care and custody of the State for the criminal act of not controlling his drone for 3 years, flying it into little Susie Smith (whose dad is a DHS agent) and doing her grievous harm. That's OK, he'll LIKE living in an Obamayouth Kamp, they'll mold him into the ideal subject! Oh, his fine? We'lll just postpone it - we may need to hold it over his head... someday...

And while we're at it? How dare you raise such a criminal? You both must be terrorists. We're putting you on a federal watch list, and revoking your rights. Um Hmmm...

Flying a drone anywhere near a busy airport is recklessly stupid. There I can understand restrictions but not the paying of fees.
Due to ongoing terrorist activity and that of international spies, I can understand why military bases can dislike civilian drones flying around.
Messing with Area 51 may be fun, though getting caught droning the place definitely would not.

Basically the government wants us to sit in our houses and never leave and never do anything- UNTIL they approve.

Prior approval is the watchword of federal regulations. They did it with medical devices in 1976, long before that with transportation of all types. long before that even with our food, and lately with our medical care.

Getting time to make enough resources to be able to "shrug" without living in a cold, dark tent.

Its very depressing

I don't see this as any more problematic than registering full size aircraft. As you say it won't affect the guy who intends to cause harm (unless we make it open season on drones without a tail number), but it will improve accountability and deter mischief by those whose craft are registered.

I have 4 audio speakers in the living room which have
beryllium-domed mid-range and high-frequency drivers.
they aren't produced any more. . wonder why? -- j

p.s. these antiques do sound super!
.

We've had a number of incidents where firefighting planes have stopped dropping water because there were drones in the area.

I wonder how dangerous drones are to aircraft?

The word 'drone' covers everything from the 2 oz drone charging on my USB port to military drones weighing in excess of a ton.

.55 pounds is pretty light. I'm sure hitting birds is more dangerous. Are they freaking out over nothing or is there a real danger -- and at what weight?