Bill Text - HB1599 (2016)

Relative to shining a laser pointing device at an aircraft or vessel, or at another person.


Revision: May 23, 2016, midnight

\t \t\t \t\t \t\t \t \t \t\t

CHAPTER 92

HB 1599-FN - FINAL VERSION

10Mar2016... 0252h

2016 SESSION

\t16-2425

\t04/03

 

HOUSE BILL\t1599-FN

 

AN ACT\trelative to shining a laser pointing device at an aircraft or vessel, or at another person.

 

SPONSORS:\tRep. Weyler, Rock. 13; Rep. L. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. A. Turcotte, Merr. 22; Rep. D. Brown, Graf. 16; Rep. Lachance, Hills. 8; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

 

COMMITTEE:\tCriminal Justice and Public Safety

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

\tThis bill establishes penalties for offenses involving shining a laser pointing device at an aircraft or vessel, or at another person.  

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.

\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

10Mar2016... 0252h\t16-2425

\t04/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

 

AN ACT\trelative to shining a laser pointing device at an aircraft or vessel, or at another person.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

\t92:1  Assault and Related Offenses; Conduct Involving Laser Pointing Devices.  Amend RSA 631:3-a to read as follows:

\t631:3-a  Conduct Involving Laser Pointing Devices.

\t\tI.(a)  Any person who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied motor vehicle, vessel, or window, or at a person shall be guilty of a violation and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.

\t\t\t(b)  Any person who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied aircraft shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.

\t\tII.  [Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I,] Any person who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at a law enforcement officer or law enforcement vehicle shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.

\t\tIII.  It shall be an affirmative defense under this section if the laser pointing device was used in an organized meeting or training class by the instructor or speaker.  Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to limit the use of medical lasers by qualified medical personnel, or construction lasers used by construction personnel in the course of their work, or laser devices utilized by law enforcement personnel in the performance of their official duties.

\t92:2  New Paragraph; New Hampshire Aeronautics Act; Prohibitions.  Amend RSA 422:28 by inserting after paragraph XIII the following new paragraph:

\t\tXIV.  For any person to purposely or knowingly shine the beam of a laser pointing device at an aircraft that is in flight or in the process of takeoff, landing, or taxiing.

\t92:3  New Paragraph; New Hampshire Aeronautics Act; Penalties.  Amend RSA 422:29 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:

\t\tIX.  Any person who violates the provisions of RSA 422:28, XIV shall be guilty of a class B felony.

\t92:4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2017.

Approved: May 19, 2016

Effective Date: January 1, 2017