Senate Bill 0278

    Florida Senate - 2000                                   SB 278

    By Senator Saunders





    25-258-00

  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.

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19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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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 - 2000                                   SB 278
    25-258-00




  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, 2000.

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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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