Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007

Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007 (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)

HR 1615 RFS

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1615

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 23, 2007
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.

(a) Offense- Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft

`(a) 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) 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) 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) 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 House and Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House, and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in the Senate not less than 90 days before such regulations become final.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.'.
Passed the House of Representatives May 22, 2007.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.