II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1608 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 22, 2011 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Kirk, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2011.

2.

Prohibition against aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft

(a)

Offense

Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 39 the following:

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 Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, not less than 90 days before such regulations become final.

. (b)

Clerical Amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 39 the following new item: 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. .