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2012 SESSION

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12100212D
HOUSE BILL NO. 87 Offered January 11, 2012 Prefiled December 21, 2011 A BILL to amend and reenact § 5.1-22 of the Code of Virginia, relating to aiming a laser at an aircraft; penalty. ---------- Patrons-- Knight, Iaquinto and Villanueva ---------- Referred to Committee on Transportation ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 5.1-22 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 5.1-22. Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue.

A. Any person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft on or over the territory of this the Commonwealth shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the aircraft's operator or the life of any other person, the person interfering or threatening to interfere shall be  is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Venue for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest and trial of any such person is hereby conferred upon any court having criminal jurisdiction in the political subdivision in this the Commonwealth where the aircraft either took off prior to such offense, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such offense, or in or over which the offense occurred.

B. Any person, except as authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, who knowingly and intentionally projects a laser at an aircraft shall be deemed to have interfered with or threatened to interfere with the operation of the aircraft.

2.  That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 890 of the Acts of Assembly of 2011 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.