RALEIGH, N.C. -- Drones will once again be a popular gift, this holiday season, but if you aren't aware of the rules and regulations, this gift could cost you.

• Any drone weighing less than 400 grams can fly at any Raleigh park, except nature preserves, lakes, wetland centers, and cemeteries.
• Any drone weighing more than 400 grams can only take off from Baileywick, Eastgate, Spring Forest, Marsh Creek, Dorothea Dix, and Southgate parks.
• Any drone weighing more than 15 pounds, and capable of flying 70 miles per hour, needs permission from the city to operate on park property.

Jay Joiner is a drone pilot from Raleigh who worked with the city's Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board to determine the city's new policy on unmanned aircraft.

"The park board has determined, through a lot of research, where the best areas are for these aircraft to fly," Joiner said.

The policy states any drone weighing less than 400 grams can fly at any Raleigh park, except nature preserves, lakes, wetland centers, and cemeteries. Any drone weighing more than 400 grams can only take off from Baileywick, Eastgate, Spring Forest, Marsh Creek, Dorothea Dix, and Southgate parks. Any drone weighing more than 15 pounds, and capable of flying 70 miles per hour, needs permission from the city to operate on park property.

"You don't fly over roadways, where there's traffic," Joiner added. "You don't fly in near buildings, which can cause updrafts, and where there could be electronic equipment that could interfere with your aircraft. You certainly don't fly over groups of people."

The City of Raleigh now has a dedicated resource page on its website. Before you fly, you should check all of the rules and regulations there, to avoid any fines. You can find that page here.

You can also find federal regulations for unmanned aircraft here.