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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
POINTING LASERS AT AIRCRAFT WOULD BE CRIMINAL OFFENSE
ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota House of Representatives voted 129 to 3 today to pass a bipartisan measure (SF1408) making it a gross misdemeanor to intentionally discharge a laser at moving aircraft. Currently federal law prohibits this dangerous behavior for larger airplanes, but the crime has been rarely prosecuted at the federal level. In an effort to prevent laser-induced aircraft accidents, the bill passed today by state lawmakers would give Minnesota law enforcement officials the right to arrest and prosecute any person knowingly discharging a laser at an airplane.
“Currently there is not a state law. You could point a laser right into the cockpit of a moving plane, put people’s lives at risk, and never be prosecuted. It’s happened before in Minnesota, and it will happen again if we don’t do something about it." said Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL - South St. Paul) who authored this public safety bill in the House.
There have been recent cases in Minnesota where persons admitted to aiming lasers at moving aircraft and knew it was wrong. They were not prosecuted.
Hansen’s bill would change that by making it a gross misdemeanor to knowingly aim and discharge a laser or similar device into the cockpit of an aircraft in the process of taking off, in flight or landing. The idea for the bill was brought to Hansen by a constituent who is a Minnesota State Trooper.
“These lasers temporarily blind pilots and can take airplanes down,” said Hansen. “We need a legal recourse in place to prosecute these acts and make people think twice before doing something stupid. This simple bill could potentially save lives.”
The Minnesota Senate is expected to approve the measure with similar support before it is sent to Governor Pawlenty for final approval.
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