76-9-1704. Unlawful use of a laser pointer against a law enforcement officer.
214 words·~1 min read·
/ut/title-76/chapter-9/76-9-1704A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Effective 5/7/2025
76-9-1704. Unlawful use of a laser pointer against a law enforcement officer.
(1)Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1701 apply to this section.
(2)An actor commits unlawful use of a laser pointer against a law enforcement officer if the actor directs a beam of laser light from a laser pointer at an individual who the actor knows or has reason to know is a law enforcement officer.
(3)A violation of Subsection
(2)is a class C misdemeanor.
(4)It is an affirmative defense to a charge under Subsection
(2)that:
(a)the law enforcement officer was:
(i)not in uniform;
(ii)not traveling in a vehicle identified as a law enforcement vehicle; and
(iii)not otherwise engaged in an activity that would give the actor reason to know the law enforcement officer to be a law enforcement officer; and
(b)the law enforcement officer was not otherwise known by the actor to be a law enforcement officer.
(5)If the violation of this section constitutes an offense subject to a greater penalty under another provision of this title than is provided under this section, this section does not prohibit the prosecution and sentencing for the offense subject to a greater penalty.
Enacted by Chapter 173 , 2025 General Session