S-1299.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5849

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen and Fraser

Read first time 02/12/1999.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Making unlawful use of a laser pointer a misdemeanor.

    AN ACT Relating to laser pointers; adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9.41 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) It is unlawful for any person to direct light from a laser pointer at a uniformed police officer, uniformed security guard, uniformed school safety officer, uniformed traffic enforcement officer, uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, uniformed emergency medical service worker, uniformed ambulance worker, or other uniformed city, state, or federal peace officer, investigator, or emergency service worker, or the marked service vehicle of any such individual.

    (2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9.92.030.

    (3) For the purposes of this section, "laser pointer" means any device that emits light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that is visible to the human eye.

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