House bill would impose fine or jail time for shining laser at an aircraft

Re. Dan Lungren

The House passed a bill on July 27 that would prohibit anyone from aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or in the flight path of an aircraft, and specifies a fine or imprisonment of not more than five years for criminal offenders.

The measure, H.R. 5810, was sponsored by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) and passed by a voice vote.

The bill, known as the Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010, is intended to address the increasing frequency of such dangerous uses of laser pointers.

“In 2005, when a similar bill was passed by this body, this emerging threat was estimated at 400 reported incidents over the previous 15 years,” said Lungren, on the House floor on July 27. “By contrast, in 2009 alone, there were almost 1,600 episodes reported. In 2010, there have been approximately the same number of incidents from 2009 in just the first half of the year.”

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) cited numerous concerns about the threat these laser pointers can represent to aviation safety and national security. “Some are concerned that terrorists might use high-powered lasers to, among other things, incapacitate pilots,” said Scott, on the House floor. “There is also concern that laser devices can distract or temporarily incapacitate pilots during critical phases of a flight.”

In a letter dated July 27, the Air Line Pilots Association said, “A laser illumination event can, at a minimum, be an unwanted flight crew distraction; and in some serious cases can even lead to eye damage and temporary incapacitation.”

Under the legislation, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, would be responsible for drafting the implementing regulations.