IB 
Union Calendar No. 89 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1615 
[Report No. 110–149] 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming 
laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2007 
Mr. KELLER of Florida (for himself and Mr. FORBES) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
MAY 14, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties 
for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Aircraft 
Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER 
AT AN AIRCRAFT. 
(a) OFFENSE.—Chapter 2 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft 
‘‘(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser 
pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction 
of the United States, or at the flight path of such an air-
craft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not 
more than 5 years, or both. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section, the term ‘laser pointer’ 
means any device designed or used to amplify electro-
magnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a 
beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer 
or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific posi-
tion, place, item, or object. 
‘‘(c) This section does not prohibit aiming a beam 
of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such 
an aircraft, by— 
‘‘(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of 
research and development or flight test operations 
conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal 
Aviation Administration, or any other person author-
ized by the Federal Aviation Administration to con-
duct such research and development or flight test 
operations; 
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‘‘(2) members or elements of the Department of 
Defense or Department of Homeland Security acting 
in an official capacity for the purpose of research, 
development, operations, testing or training; or 
‘‘(3) by an individual using a laser emergency 
signaling device to send an emergency distress sig-
nal. 
‘‘(d) The Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Transportation, may provide by regulation, 
after public notice and comment, such additional excep-
tions to this section, as may be necessary and appropriate. 
The Attorney General shall provide written notification of 
any proposed regulations under this section to the Com-
mittees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate, the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the 
House, and the Committee on Commerce, Science and 
Transportation in the Senate not less than 90 days before 
such regulations become final.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT
TO TABLE
OF SECTIONS.—The 
table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item: 
‘‘39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.’’. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Aircraft Cock-
pits Against Lasers Act of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER 
AT AN AIRCRAFT. 
(a) OFFENSE.—Chapter 2 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft 
‘‘(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser 
pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction 
of the United States, or at the flight path of such an air-
craft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more 
than 5 years, or both. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section, the term ‘laser pointer’ 
means any device designed or used to amplify electro-
magnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a 
beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or 
highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, 
place, item, or object. 
‘‘(c) This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of 
a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such 
an aircraft, by— 
‘‘(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of 
research and development or flight test operations 
conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal 
Aviation Administration, or any other person author-
ized by the Federal Aviation Administration to con-
duct such research and development or flight test op-
erations; 
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‘‘(2) members or elements of the Department of 
Defense or Department of Homeland Security acting 
in an official capacity for the purpose of research, de-
velopment, operations, testing or training; or 
‘‘(3) by an individual using a laser emergency 
signaling device to send an emergency distress signal. 
‘‘(d) The Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Transportation, may provide by regulation, 
after public notice and comment, such additional exceptions 
to this section, as may be necessary and appropriate. The 
Attorney General shall provide written notification of any 
proposed regulations under this section to the Committees 
on the Judiciary of the House and Senate, the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House, and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 
in the Senate not less than 90 days before such regulations 
become final.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 89 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1615 
[Report No. 110–149] 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide 
penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, 
and for other purposes. 
MAY 14, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:50 May 14, 2007
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