Southern California Assemblyman Proposes Electronic License Plates, Insurance for Drones

Assemblymember Mike Gatto on Jan. 13 introduced legislation that would require license plates, shutoff technology and point-of-sale insurance policies for drones.

Gatto, the longest-serving member of the Assembly and chair of the Utilities and Commerce Committee, said the Drone Registration/Omnibus Negligence-prevention Enactment (DRONE) Act of 2016 responds to the emergence of the new technology and would help protect firefighting efforts and aviation space near airports.

Gatto's legislation will propose tiny physical license plates or electronic plates in order to keep drone operators accountable, and drones of a certain size would be required in incorporate GPS technology that automatically shuts off the drone if it flies too close to an airport.

Consumers also would have to buy insurance policies — "$1 or so," Gatto says — to cover the possibility of property damage or injury.

“One could imagine the auto industry balking at the idea of registration requirements at the turn of the century, but the industry survived,” Gatto said. “As technology evolves, so must our laws in order to protect our citizenry.  This is a sensible measure that will increase public safety and encourage responsible use of drones in California.”

Effective Dec. 21, 2015, some drone operators 13 years of age or older already are required to put their drones on an FAA registry.

Gatto responded on Twitter to those who said drones haven't posed a danger.