5 year felony and $10,000 fine for pointing laser at airplane or train

[t-pain]

i keep hearing about people pointing lasers at airplanes and helicopters ... i figure i'd post this because its been law for a few months now. dont do this people, its a 5 year felony. point your laser pointer at the cat like normal people.

 

http://komornlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MSP_Legal_Update_July_2017_No_128_579056_7.pdf

CRIMINAL LAW

Michigan Penal Code amended to add the crime of aiming a beam of directed energy at an aircraft or train

Public Acts 29 and 30 of 2017, effective August 7, 2017, amended the Michigan Penal Code by adding MCL 750.43a to prohibit a person from intentionally aiming a beam of directed energy emitted from a directed energy device at an aircraft or into the path of an aircraft or a moving train.

 

As used in this section, “directed energy device” means any device that emits highly focused energy and is capable of transferring that energy to a target to damage or interfere with its operation. The energy from a directed energy device includes, but is not limited to, the following forms of energy: 

Electromagnetic radiation, including radio frequency, microwave, lasers, and masers 

Particles with mass, in particle-beam weapons and devices 

Sound, in sonic weapons and devices

 

Exempted Parties

This section does not apply to any of the following: 

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 authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct research and development or flight test operations 

Members of the United States Department of Defense or the United States Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing, or training 

A person using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal Penalty

 

A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.