California · Penal Code

PEN §247.5: Any person who willfully and maliciously discharges a laser at an aircraft, whether in motion or in flight, while occupied, is guilty of a violation of this section, which shall be punishable as eithe

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Willfully and maliciously shining a laser at an occupied aircraft is punishable as either a misdemeanor (up to one year jail or $1,000 fine) or a felony (16 months to 3 years imprisonment or $2,000 fine).

Read the full statutory text

Any person who willfully and maliciously discharges a laser at an aircraft, whether in motion or in flight, while occupied, is guilty of a violation of this section, which shall be punishable as either a misdemeanor by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or a felony by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, two years, or three years, or by a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000). This section does not apply to the conduct of laser development activity by or on behalf of the United States Armed Forces. As used in this section, “aircraft” means any contrivance intended for and capable of transporting persons through the airspace. As used in this section, “laser” means a device that utilizes the natural oscillations of atoms or molecules between energy levels for generating coherent electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared region of the spectrum, and when discharged exceeds one milliwatt continuous wave.

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