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One might never consider it unlawful to point a laser pointer at someone, but Illinois legislators think otherwise. This article of Illinois criminal law makes it illegal to point a laser pointer at a peace officer such as a policeman. A conviction for the crime of aiming a laser pointer at a police officer carries a Class A misdemeanor status.
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The text below comes from Article 24 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961. This law may have changed -- please read the important legal disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 - Article 24
Sec. 24.6-5. Definitions.
(720 ILCS 5/24.6-5)
In this Article:
"Laser pointer" means a hand-held device that emits light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that is visible to the human eye.
"Laser sight" means a laser pointer that can be attached to a firearm and can be used to improve the accuracy of the firearm. (Source: P.A. 91-252, eff. 1-1-00.)
Sec. 24.6-20. Aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer.
(720 ILCS 5/24.6-20)
(a) A person commits aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer when he or she intentionally or knowingly aims an operating laser pointer at a person he or she knows or reasonably should know to be a peace officer.
(b) Sentence. Aiming a laser pointer at a peace officer is a Class A misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 91-252, eff. 1-1-00.)
Return to Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER: These excerpts from the law are provided for reference purposes only. Visitors to our Chicago criminal defense lawyer website should be aware that Illinois criminal laws have been amended many times and that Illinois crime laws posted on this site may not be current. In addition, Illinois criminal case law defines precedents for legal determinations that are not defined in the original laws.
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