Laser discharged at aircraft
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Any person who and discharges a laser at an aircraft, whether in motion or in flight, while occupied, is guilty of a violation of this section, which shall be punishable as either a by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or a by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, two years, or three years, or by a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000). This section does not apply to the conduct of laser development activity by or on behalf of the United States Armed Forces.
As used in this section, “aircraft” means any contrivance intended for and capable of transporting persons through the airspace.
As used in this section, “laser” means a device that utilizes the natural oscillations of atoms or molecules between energy levels for generating coherent electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared region of the spectrum, and when discharged exceeds one milliwatt continuous wave.
History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 301. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.
Simplified explanation
Willfully and maliciously discharging a laser at an occupied aircraft is a misdemeanor (county jail up to one year) or a felony (16 months, two years, or three years).