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2000 SESSION

004698660
HOUSE BILL NO. 437
Offered January 17, 2000
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-57.01, relating to pointing a laser at law-enforcement officer.
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Patrons-- Callahan, Armstrong, Baskerville, Bennett, Black, Bolvin, Clement, Deeds, Devolites, Hamilton, Hull, Johnson, Jones, J.C., Landes, Moss, Nixon, Parrish, Phillips, Robinson, Rollison, Spruill, Stump and Tate; Senators: Barry, Colgan, Forbes, Holland, Lambert, Quayle and Stolle
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-57.01 as follows:

§ 18.2-57.01. Pointing laser at law-enforcement officer unlawful; penalty.

If any person, knowing or having reason to know another person is a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 18.2-57.01, a correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1, or a person employed by the Department of Corrections directly involved in the care, treatment or supervision of inmates in the custody of the Department engaged in the performance of his public duties as such, projects at such other person a beam or a point of light from a laser, a laser gun sight on or attached to a firearm, or any other device that emits a beam or point of light generated by means of light amplification or stimulated emission of radiation, or any device that simulates a laser, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.