TechFreedom Sues FAA Over 'Rushed' $5 Drone Registration Fee Rules
TechFreedom sued the Federal Aviation Administration, saying it exceeded the agency's authority when it imposed a $5 registration fee for drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds (see 1512140019). “Whether or not requiring drone registration is a wise policy, the…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
rules the FAA rushed out before Christmas are unlawful,” TechFreedom President Berin Szoka said in a statement on the lawsuit. Szoka said the FAA didn't give the public an opportunity to comment on the regulations, meaning the agency wasn't able to consider "the real-world complexities of drones," which could lead to unintended consequences. Tom Struble, policy counsel for the group, said the notice-and-comment rulemaking process gives agencies stakeholder viewpoints so it can assess "competing considerations." He also called the cost-benefit analysis in the FAA's interim drone regulations "paltry." The FAA said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.