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2020 SPECIAL SESSION I

20200677D
HOUSE BILL NO. 5139
Offered August 26, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-57.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to projecting laser at law-enforcement officer; penalties.
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Patrons-- Robinson, Avoli, Batten, Cole, M.L., Edmunds, Fowler, Gilbert, LaRock, Marshall, Runion and Walker
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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 § 18.2-57.01 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-57.01. Projecting laser at law-enforcement officer unlawful; penalties.

If any person, knowing or having reason to know another person is a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 18.2-57, a probation or parole officer appointed pursuant to § 53.1-143, 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, intentionally projects at such other person a beam or a point of light from a laser, a laser gun sight, or any device that simulates a laser, shall be such person is guilty of a Class 2 1 misdemeanor, but if such intentional projection results in blindness or serious eye injury, such person is guilty of a Class 4 felony, and, upon conviction, the sentence of such person shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of two years.

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 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $0 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.