SB1709 EngrossedLRB097 10064 RLC 50241 b

1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by changing
5the heading of Article 24.6 and Section 24.6-5 and by adding
6Section 24.6-25 as follows:
 
7    (720 ILCS 5/Art. 24.6 heading)
8
ARTICLE 24.6. LASERS AND LASER POINTERS

 
9    (720 ILCS 5/24.6-5)
10    Sec. 24.6-5. Definitions. In this Article:
11    "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known or hereafter
12invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the
13air, but excluding parachutes.
14    "Laser" means either of the following:
15        (1) a device that utilizes the natural oscillations of
16    atoms or molecules between energy levels for generating
17    coherent electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet,
18    visible, or infrared region of the spectrum and when
19    discharged exceeds one milliwatt continuous wave;
20        (2) any device designed or used to amplify
21    electromagnetic radiation by simulated emission that is
22    visible to the human eye.

 

 

SB1709 Engrossed- 2 -LRB097 10064 RLC 50241 b

1    "Laser pointer" means a hand-held device that emits light
2amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that is
3visible to the human eye.
4    "Laser sight" means a laser pointer that can be attached to
5a firearm and can be used to improve the accuracy of the
6firearm.
7(Source: P.A. 91-252, eff. 1-1-00.)
 
8    (720 ILCS 5/24.6-25 new)
9    Sec. 24.6-25. Discharging a laser at an aircraft.
10    (a) A person commits discharging a laser at an aircraft
11when he or she intentionally or knowingly aims and discharges a
12laser or other device that creates visible light into the
13cockpit of an aircraft that is in the process of taking off,
14landing, or is in flight.
15    (b) Exceptions. This Section does not apply to the
16following individuals who aim and discharge a laser or other
17device at an aircraft:
18        (1) an authorized individual in the conduct of research
19    and development or flight test operations conducted by an
20    aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation
21    Administration, or any other person authorized by the
22    Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research
23    and development or flight test operations; or
24        (2) members or elements of the Department of Defense or
25    Department of Homeland Security acting in an official

 

 

SB1709 Engrossed- 3 -LRB097 10064 RLC 50241 b

1    capacity for the purpose of research, development,
2    operations, testing, or training.
3    (c) Sentence. Discharging a laser at an aircraft is a Class
4A misdemeanor.