Boater Protection from Laser Pointers Act

Boater Protection from Laser Pointers Act

This bill prohibits causing the beam of a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the waters of the United States unless it involves the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing, or training.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2893 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2893

To amend title 46, United States Code, to prohibit causing the beam of 
a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the navigable waters of 
               the United States, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2019

 Mr. Rouda (for himself and Mr. Gibbs) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

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                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 46, United States Code, to prohibit causing the beam of 
a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the navigable waters of 
               the United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Boater Protection from Laser 
Pointers Act''.

SEC. 2. AIMING A LASER POINTER AT A VESSEL.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 700 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel
    ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful to cause the beam of a 
laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the navigable waters of 
the United States.
    ``(b) Exceptions.--This section shall not apply to a member or 
element of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security 
acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, 
development, operations, testing, or training.
    ``(c) Laser Pointer Defined.--In this section the term `laser 
pointer' means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic 
radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used 
by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or 
identify a specific position, place, item, or object.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end of the items relating to such subchapter the 
following:

``70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel.''.
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