HF 1737

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime; defining the crimes of laser 
  1.3             assault to include using laser pointers to harm or 
  1.4             distract others at places of public assembly; imposing 
  1.5             criminal penalties; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [609.2247] [LASER ASSAULT.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) The terms in this 
  1.10  subdivision apply to this section. 
  1.11     (b) "Laser" means any device that can be made to produce or 
  1.12  amplify electromagnetic radiation at specified wavelengths. 
  1.13     (c) "Laser pointer" means an electronic product that emits 
  1.14  laser radiation through an aperture in a protective housing and 
  1.15  includes pen shape design laser pointers, keychain shape design 
  1.16  laser pointers, and any other similar laser pointers. 
  1.17     (d) "Laser radiation" means all electromagnetic radiation 
  1.18  emitted by a laser product with a specific spectral range that 
  1.19  is produced as a result of controlled stimulated emission or 
  1.20  that is detachable with radiation so produced through the 
  1.21  appropriate aperture stop and within the appropriate solid angle 
  1.22  of acceptance.  
  1.23     (e) "Minor" means an individual under 18 years of age. 
  1.24     Subd. 2.  [LASER ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE.] A person or 
  1.25  minor who uses a laser pointer to disable another by pointing a 
  1.26  beam of laser radiation at the person's eye in a place of public 
  2.1   assembly and inflicts substantial or great bodily harm to the 
  2.2   eye commits laser assault in the first degree and may be 
  2.3   sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to 
  2.4   payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.  
  2.5      Subd. 3.  [LASER ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE.] A person or 
  2.6   minor who attempts to disable another by pointing a beam of 
  2.7   laser radiation at the person's eye in a place of public 
  2.8   assembly commits laser assault in the second degree and may be 
  2.9   sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
  2.10  payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. 
  2.11     Subd. 4.  [LASER ASSAULT IN THE THIRD DEGREE.] A person or 
  2.12  minor who attempts to confuse or distract another by pointing a 
  2.13  beam of laser radiation at the person in a place of public 
  2.14  assembly commits laser assault in the third degree and may be 
  2.15  sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to 
  2.16  payment of a fine of not more than $700, or both.