§ 13-1213 — Aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer or an occupied aircraft; classification; definitions

A. A person commits aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly directs the beam of light from a laser pointer at another person and the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is a peace officer.

B. A person commits aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly directs the beam of light from a laser pointer at an aircraft and the person knows or reasonably should know that the aircraft is occupied.

C. Intentionally or knowingly aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer is a class 5 felony. Recklessly aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer is a class 1 misdemeanor.

D. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 2 felony if the act causes the pilot to crash the aircraft or perform an emergency landing. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 3 felony if the act renders the pilot unable to safely operate the aircraft. Intentionally or knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 6 felony. Recklessly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 1 misdemeanor.

E. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Aircraft" means any vehicle that is used for flight in the air by buoyancy or by the dynamic action of air on the vehicle's surfaces, including airplanes, gliders and helicopters.

2. "Laser pointer" means any device that emits an intense beam of light amplified by stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation.