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2012 SESSION

12105270D
HOUSE BILL NO. 87
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations
on February 10, 2012)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Knight)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 5.1-22 of the Code of Virginia, relating to aiming a laser at an aircraft; penalty.

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.

Any person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of this the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where 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 guilty of a Class 6 felony, including any person who knowingly and intentionally projects a laser at an aircraft, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 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.