Sec. 311. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT

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## SEC. 311 PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT ###

(a)Offense Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 39 the following: > > ## “SEC. 39A Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft > > **[**[18 U.S.C. 39A](/us/usc/t18/s39A)**]** > > > ### “(a) Offense > > Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. > > > ### “(b) Laser Pointer Defined > > As used in this section, the term ‘laser pointer’ means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, place, item, or object. > > > ### “(c) Exceptions > > This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by— > > > #### “(1) > > an authorized individual in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations; > > > #### “(2) > > members or elements of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing, or training; or > > > #### “(3) > > by an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal. > > > ### “(d) Authority To Establish Additional Exceptions by Regulation > > The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, may provide by regulation, after public notice and comment, such additional exceptions to this section as may be necessary and appropriate. The Attorney General shall provide written notification of any proposed regulations under this section to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, not less than 90 days before such regulations become final.” > . ###

(b)Clerical Amendment The analysis for such chapter is amended— ####

(1)by moving the item relating to section 39 after the item relating to section 38; and ####

(2)by inserting after the item relating to section 39 the following:“39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft”.

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18 USC 39A

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Sec. 311

PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT

Cite18 USC 39A

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