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US: FAA bill mandates quarterly reporting of laser incidents and prosecutions; increases civil penalties

On July 15 2016, President Obama signed the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016. One of the provisions provides funding for the agency to report four times a year to Congress about the following:

  • the number of laser pointer incidents reported to FAA
  • the number of civil and criminal enforcement actions
  • the resolution of any incidents that did not result in a civil or criminal action
  • any actions taken to help deter laser pointer incidents

In addition, the maximum civil penalty that FAA can impose was raised to $25,000. It was formerly $11,000.

U.S. Government Printing Office. The full text of the laser pointer provisions of the Act is below (click the Read More… link).

The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016


Originally H.R. 636, passed July 11 2016 in the House, as amended by the Senate
Signed into law by President Barack Obama July 15 2016


TITLE II--AVIATION SAFETY CRITICAL REFORMS

Subtitle A--Safety


SEC. 2104. LASER POINTER INCIDENTS.

(a) In General. --Beginning 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with appropriate Federal law enforcement agencies, shall provide quarterly updates to the appropriate committees of Congress regarding-- 

     (1) the number of incidents involving the beam from a laser pointer (as defined in section 39A of title 18, United States Code) being aimed at, or in the flight path of, an aircraft in the airspace jurisdiction of the United States; 

     (2) the number of civil or criminal enforcement actions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation, or another Federal agency with regard to the incidents described in paragraph (1), including the amount of the civil or criminal penalties imposed on violators;

     (3) the resolution of any incidents described in paragraph (1) that did not result in a civil or criminal enforcement action; and 

     (4) any actions the Department of Transportation or another Federal agency has taken on its own, or in conjunction with other Federal agencies or local law enforcement agencies, to deter the type of activity described in paragraph (1). 

(b) Civil Penalties. --The Administrator shall revise the maximum civil penalty that may be imposed on an individual who aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the airspace jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, to be $25,000.