Senate Bill sb0830c1

    Florida Senate - 2005                            CS for SB 830

    By the Committee on Justice Appropriations; and Senators
    Sebesta and Lynn




    604-2206-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the misuse of laser lighting

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

  4         the term "laser lighting device"; providing

  5         that any person who knowingly and willingly

  6         aims a laser lighting device at a person

  7         operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft

  8         commits a felony of the third degree; providing

  9         that any person who causes bodily harm while

10         improperly pointing the laser lighting device

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

12         aircraft commits a felony of the second degree;

13         providing an effective date.

14  

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

16  

17         Section 1.  Section 784.062, Florida Statutes, is

18  amended to read:

19         784.062  Misuse of laser lighting devices.--

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

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

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

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

24  identify a specific position, place, item, or object. However,

25  as used in subsection (3), the term "laser lighting device"

26  means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic

27  radiation by stimulated emission.

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

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

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

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

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






    Florida Senate - 2005                            CS for SB 830
    604-2206-05




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

 2  or her commits a noncriminal violation, punishable as

 3  provided in s. 775.083.

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

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

 6  individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft

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

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

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

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

11  individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft and

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

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

14  775.083, or s. 775.084.

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

16  

17          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
18                         Senate Bill 830

19                                 

20  Changes the word "airplane" to "aircraft" to make the bill
    inclusive of helicopters and certain airplanes.
21  
    Redefines the term "laser lighting device", relative to its
22  use on persons operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft,
    to include all lasers and not merely the kind designed to be
23  used as a pointing device.

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