Section 247.5 Of Chapter 9. Assault And Battery From California Penal Code >> Title 8. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 9.
247.5
. Any person who willfully and maliciously discharges a laser
at an aircraft, whether in motion or in flight, while occupied, is
guilty of a violation of this section, which shall be punishable as
either a misdemeanor by imprisonment in the county jail for not more
than one year or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or a
felony by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170
for 16 months, two years, or three years, or by a fine of two
thousand dollars ($2,000). This section does not apply to the conduct
of laser development activity by or on behalf of the United States
Armed Forces.
As used in this section, "aircraft" means any contrivance intended
for and capable of transporting persons through the airspace.
As used in this section, "laser" means a device that utilizes the
natural oscillations of atoms or molecules between energy levels for
generating coherent electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet,
visible, or infrared region of the spectrum, and when discharged
exceeds one milliwatt continuous wave.