What's happening
This bill makes it illegal in New York to sell or distribute lasers over one milliwatt, with certain exceptions.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce risks to public safety. by restricting access to high-powered lasers, which have been used to harass, distract, or endanger pilots, drivers, and others.
Creates criminal penalties (class A misdemeanor). for selling or distributing lasers over one milliwatt, signaling a significant legal deterrent and possible criminal record for violators.
Contains targeted exceptions. for certain professional uses, allowing lasers over one milliwatt when affixed to firearms or used by licensed medical professionals, balancing safety concerns with legitimate needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban High-Powered Laser Sales
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3038
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to restricting the sale of certain lasers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.78 to read as follows: § 240.78 Sale of a laser.
1. It shall be unlawful to distribute, sell or offer for sale a laser, as defined by paragraph (a) of subdivision three of section 240.76 of this article, which exceeds one milliwatt in output power.
2. This section shall not apply to lasers designed to be affixed to a firearm or to lasers used by or under the supervision of a person licensed under article one hundred thirty-one of the education law.
Sale of a laser is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09138-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to restricting the sale of certain lasers
Purpose
To restrict the sale of lasers which could end up in the wrong hands and be used improperly.
Summary of provisions
Section i amends the penal law by adding a new section 240.78. Subsection 1 states it shall be unlawful to distribute, sell, or offer for sale a laser as defined by paragraph (a) of subdivision three of section 240.76 which exceeds one milliwatt in output power. Subsection 2 states this does not apply to lasers designed to be affixed to a firearm or to lasers used by or under the supervision of a licensed physician. The sale of a laser is a class A misdemeanor.
Section 2 provide the act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Existing law
none
Justification
This legislation provides a restriction on the sale or purchase of a laser device with an output power of greater than 1 milliwat. These lasers are exceedingly powerful and can inflict a pilot with temporary blindness when landing a plane, which can be catastrophic.
Legislative history
02/29/16 REFERRED TO CODES
Fiscal implications
None
Local fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.