Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2006

Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2006 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the aiming of the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft or in its flight path. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years.

Exempts from such prohibition: (1) individuals conducting research and development or flight test operations for an aircraft manufacturer or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); (2) Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security personnel conducting research, development, operations, testing or training; or (3) an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send a distress signal.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6226 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6226

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming 
          laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2006

   Mr. Keller (for himself and Mr. Scott of Virginia) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming 
          laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against 
Lasers Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.

    (a) Offense.--Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft
    ``(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an 
aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or 
at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title 
or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
    ``(b) As used in this section, the term `laser pointer' means any 
device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by 
stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the 
operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a 
specific position, place, item, or object.
    ``(c) This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser 
pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by--
            ``(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of research 
        and development or flight test operations conducted by an 
        aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or 
        any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration to conduct such research and development or 
        flight test operations;
            ``(2) members or elements of the Department of Defense or 
        Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity 
        for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing 
        or training; or
            ``(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signaling 
        device to send an emergency distress signal.
    ``(d) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Transportation, may provide by regulation, after public notice and 
comment, such additional exceptions to this section, as may be 
necessary and appropriate. The Attorney General shall provide written 
notification of any proposed regulations under this section to the 
Committees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure in the House, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation in the Senate not less than 90 
days before such regulations become final.''.
    (b) Amendment to Table of Sections.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item:

``39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.''.
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