18-3-210. Unlawfully aiming a laser device at an aircraft - definitions.
Statute text
(1) A person who knowingly points, focuses, or aims the beam of a laser device at an aircraft in flight or on the ground while occupied, and the incident is reported by the pilot or a crew member of the impacted aircraft to a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency, commits the offense of unlawfully aiming a laser device at an aircraft, which is a class 6 felony.
(2) The offense described in subsection (1) of this section does not apply if the person:
(a) Is an authorized individual conducting research and development or flight test operations for an aircraft manufacturer or the federal aviation administration, or any other person authorized by the federal aviation administration to conduct research and development or flight test operations;
(b) Is a member 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; or
(c) Uses a laser device with the intent of sending an emergency distress signal.
(3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Aircraft" means a device manned by a person that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.
(b) "Laser device" means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared region of the spectrum.
History
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (SB 23-095), ch. 29, p. 99, 1, effective July 1.
Annotations
Editor's note: Section 2 of chapter 29 (SB 23-095), Session Laws of Colorado 2023, provides that the act adding this section applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2023.