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House Bill 1586 |
House Author: Flores |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
Senate Sponsor: Lucio |
House Bill 1586 amends the Penal Code to create the offense of illumination of aircraft by intense light. A person commits the offense if the person intentionally directs a light at an aircraft and the light is sufficiently intense to impair the operator's ability to control the aircraft. The bill provides that the offense is a Class C misdemeanor, unless the light actually impairs the operator's ability to control the aircraft, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor. The bill provides an affirmative defense to prosecution if the actor was using the light to send an emergency distress signal.