Bill Text: VA HB5080 | 2020 | 1st Special Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Projecting laser at another person unlawful; penalties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 12-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-09 - Left in Courts of Justice [HB5080 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB5080-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-57.01 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-57.01. Projecting laser at another person unlawful; penalties.
A. If any person intentionally projects a beam or a point of light from a laser, a laser gun sight, or any device that simulates a laser at another person with the intent to cause bodily injury, such person is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
B. If
any person, knowing or having reason to know another person is a
law-enforcement officer as defined in §18.2-57, a probation or parole officer
appointed pursuant to §53.1-143, a correctional officer as defined in §
53.1-1, or a person employed by the Department of Corrections directly involved
in the care, treatment, or
supervision of inmates in the custody of the Department engaged in the
performance of his public duties as such, intentionally projects at such other
person a beam or a point of light from a laser, a laser gun sight, or any
device that simulates a laser, shall be such person is
guilty of a Class 2 1 misdemeanor.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 1289 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.