Senate Bill 2136
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2136
By Senator Saunders
25-1384-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the misuse of hand-held
3 laser pointers; creating s. 784.062, F.S.;
4 defining the term "laser lighting device";
5 providing that it is a second-degree
6 misdemeanor for a person to knowingly and
7 willfully shine the beam of a laser lighting
8 device with the intent to harass or in such a
9 manner as to cause a person to believe that a
10 firearm is pointed at him or her; providing
11 that it is a third-degree felony to knowingly
12 and willfully shine the beam of a laser
13 lighting device at a law enforcement officer in
14 such a manner as to cause the law enforcement
15 officer to believe that a firearm is pointed at
16 him or her; providing penalties; providing an
17 effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Section 784.062, Florida Statutes, is
22 created to read:
23 784.062 Misuse of laser lighting devices.--
24 (1) As used in this section, the term "laser lighting
25 device" means a hand-held device, not affixed to a firearm,
26 which emits a laser beam that is designed to be used by the
27 operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or
28 identify a specific position, place, item, or object.
29 (2) Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,
30 points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device at
31 another person with the intent to harass that person commits a
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2136
25-1384-99
1 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
2 775.082 or s. 775.083.
3 (3) Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,
4 points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device at
5 another person in a manner that would cause a reasonable
6 person to believe that a firearm is pointed at him or her
7 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
8 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
9 (4) Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,
10 points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device at a
11 law enforcement officer, engaged in the performance of his or
12 her official duties, in such a manner that would cause a
13 reasonable person to believe that a firearm is pointed at him
14 or her commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as
15 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 1999.
17
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19 SENATE SUMMARY
20 Provides that it is a second-degree misdemeanor for a
person to knowingly and willfully shine the beam of a
21 laser pointer with the intent to harass or in such a
manner as to cause a person to believe that a firearm is
22 pointed at him or her. Providing that it is a
third-degree felony to knowingly and willfully shine the
23 beam of a laser pointer at a law enforcement officer in
such a manner as to cause the law enforcement officer to
24 believe that a firearm is pointed at him or her.
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