Senate Bill sb1040

    Florida Senate - 2001                                  SB 1040

    By Senator Saunders





    25-919-01

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the misuse of hand-held

  3         laser lighting devices; creating s. 784.062,

  4         F.S.; defining the term "laser lighting

  5         device"; 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 at a law enforcement officer under

  9         specified circumstances; providing penalties;

10         providing an effective date.

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

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14         Section 1.  Section 784.062, Florida Statutes, is

15  created to read:

16         784.062  Misuse of laser lighting devices.--

17         (1)  As used in this section, the term "laser lighting

18  device" means a hand-held device, not affixed to a firearm,

19  which emits a laser beam that is designed to be used by the

20  operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or

21  identify a specific position, place, item, or object.

22         (2)  Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,

23  points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device at a

24  law enforcement officer, engaged in the performance of his or

25  her official duties, in such a manner that would cause a

26  reasonable person to believe that a firearm is pointed at him

27  or her commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable

28  as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

29         Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2001.

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    Florida Senate - 2001                                  SB 1040
    25-919-01




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  2                          SENATE SUMMARY

  3    Makes it a second-degree misdemeanor for any person to
      knowingly and willfully shine, point, or focus the beam
  4    of certain laser lighting devices at any law enforcement
      officer under specified circumstances.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.