The Federal Aviation Administration said hobbyists caught flying unregistered drones could face big fines or jail time.
"The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500," the FAA posted on its website.
"Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years."
The update comes following the passing of the FAA’s February 19 deadline for all drone owners to register.
"Failure to register an aircraft may result in regulatory and criminal sanctions," it said.
The agency said more than 360,000 had been registered before the deadline.
Registration, which costs $5, is valid for three years.
Despite the threat of legal action and opposition of the fee by hobbyists, Huerta applauded the way the registration system was implemented with little preparation time.
"It’s proof that when government and industry partner, we can innovate, cut through red tape, and use technology to tackle emerging risks," Huerta recently said.
