Senate Bill sb0830

    Florida Senate - 2005                                   SB 830

    By Senator Sebesta





    16-818-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the misuse of laser lighting

  3         devices; amending s. 784.062, F.S.; providing

  4         that any person who knowingly and willingly

  5         aims a laser lighting device at a person

  6         operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or airplane

  7         commits a felony of the third degree; providing

  8         that any person who causes bodily harm while

  9         improperly pointing the laser lighting device

10         at the operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or

11         airplane commits a felony of the second degree;

12         providing an effective date.

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

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16         Section 1.  Section 784.062, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         784.062  Misuse of laser lighting devices.--

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29  or her commits a noncriminal violation, punishable as

30  provided in s. 775.083.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2005                                   SB 830
    16-818-05




 1         (3)(a)  Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,

 2  points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device on an

 3  individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or airplane

 4  commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided

 5  in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

 6         (b)  Any person who knowingly and willfully shines,

 7  points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device on an

 8  individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or airplane and

 9  such act results in bodily injury commits a felony of the

10  second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

11  775.083, or s. 775.084.

12         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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15                          SENATE SUMMARY

16    Provides that it is a third-degree felony to focus the
      beam of a laser lighting device on the operator of a
17    motor vehicle, vessel, or airplane. Provides that it is a
      second-degree felony if bodily harm occurs from the
18    pointing of the laser lighting device.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.