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Shown Here: Placed on Calendar Senate (09/30/2006)
Calendar No. 657
109th CONGRESS 2d Session
S. 3993
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide
penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 28, 2006
Mr. Martinez introduced
the following bill; which was read the first time
September 30
(legislative day, September 29), 2006
Read the second time and placed on the
calendar
A BILL
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 2006”.
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:
Ҥ 39B. Aiming a laser
pointer at an aircraft
“(a) In
general.—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, imprisoned
not more than 5 years, or both.
“(b) Definition.—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 individual
authorized to engage in such conduct by an aircraft manufacturer as part of the
conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by such
manufacturer;
“(2) an official of
the Federal Aviation Administration authorized to engage in such
conduct;
“(3) any other person
authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to engage in such conduct as
part of research and development or flight test operations;
“(4) a member or
element 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
“(5) an individual
using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress
signal.
“(d) Regulations.—
“(1) IN
GENERAL.—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.
“(2) NOTICE TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days before the date any regulations
issued under paragraph (1) become final, the Attorney General shall provide
written notification of any proposed regulations under this section to the
Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives.”.
(b) Technical and
conforming amendments.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
redesignating the section 39 relating to commercial motor vehicle inspections
as section 39A.
(2) AMENDMENT TO
TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to the section 39 relating to commercial motor vehicle inspections and
inserting the following “39A. Commercial motor vehicles required to stop for
inspections. “39B. Aiming a laser pointer at
an
aircraft.”.
Calendar No. 657
109th CONGRESS 2d Session
S. 3993
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide
penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other
purposes.
September 30
(legislative day, September 29), 2006
