New Hampshire Revised Statutes 631:3-a – Conduct Involving Laser Pointing Devices
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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I. As used in this section:
(a) “Government” means the federal government, the state government or any political subdivision thereof, or a state or municipal agency or department, including any employee or agent.
For details, see N.H. Rev. Stat. 651:2
(b) “Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or any other organization, including a for-profit and not-for-profit entity, but excluding government.
II. (a) Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied motor vehicle, off highway recreational vehicle, snowmobile, vessel, window, or structure, or at a person shall be guilty of a violation and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
(b) Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied aircraft shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
III. Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at a law enforcement officer or law enforcement vehicle, off highway recreational vehicle, or snowmobile shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
IV. This section shall not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointing device at a motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, window, structure, or at a person by any of the following:
(a) An authorized person in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations.
(b) The government or persons authorized by the government, including defense and aerospace contractors, engaged in research, development, operations, testing, or training.
(c) An individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal, in an organized meeting or training class by the instructor or speaker, the use of medical lasers by qualified medical personnel, sporting use related only to calibrate distance without violating the prohibitions set forth in paragraph III, agricultural use, use related to land surveying, construction lasers used by construction personnel in the course of their work or other use of lasers for lawful business purposes, or lawful laser devices utilized by law enforcement personnel in the performance of their official duties.
(d) Vehicle sensors, including those used for navigational aids, and research, development, test, evaluation, and operation of autonomous vehicles, as permitted by law.
(e) An individual authorized by the owner of the motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, window, or structure.
(f) An individual authorized by the person, or the parent or guardian of the person.
(a) “Government” means the federal government, the state government or any political subdivision thereof, or a state or municipal agency or department, including any employee or agent.
Attorney's Note
Under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 631:3-a
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
- state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
(b) “Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or any other organization, including a for-profit and not-for-profit entity, but excluding government.
II. (a) Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied motor vehicle, off highway recreational vehicle, snowmobile, vessel, window, or structure, or at a person shall be guilty of a violation and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
(b) Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at an occupied aircraft shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
III. Any person in direct or remote control of a laser pointing device who knowingly shines the beam of a laser pointing device at a law enforcement officer or law enforcement vehicle, off highway recreational vehicle, or snowmobile shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the laser pointing device shall be seized and forfeited upon conviction.
IV. This section shall not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointing device at a motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, window, structure, or at a person by any of the following:
(a) An authorized person in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations.
(b) The government or persons authorized by the government, including defense and aerospace contractors, engaged in research, development, operations, testing, or training.
(c) An individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal, in an organized meeting or training class by the instructor or speaker, the use of medical lasers by qualified medical personnel, sporting use related only to calibrate distance without violating the prohibitions set forth in paragraph III, agricultural use, use related to land surveying, construction lasers used by construction personnel in the course of their work or other use of lasers for lawful business purposes, or lawful laser devices utilized by law enforcement personnel in the performance of their official duties.
(d) Vehicle sensors, including those used for navigational aids, and research, development, test, evaluation, and operation of autonomous vehicles, as permitted by law.
(e) An individual authorized by the owner of the motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, window, or structure.
(f) An individual authorized by the person, or the parent or guardian of the person.