Wall Street Journal Blog - House Bill Would Makes It a Crime to Point Laser at Aircraft

The House of Representatives voted unanimously for legislation that would make it a federal crime to point a laser at an aircraft or in its flight path.

Under the measure, which passed on a voice vote, violators would face up to five years in prison.

The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Lungren (R., Calif.), is designed to crack down on a practice that pilots say threatens to impede their vision, particularly during takeoffs and landings. The largest U.S. pilots union has pushed for the legislation.

No aircraft crashes have been reported due to people pointing lasers from the ground, but federal aviation regulators reported earlier this year that laser incidents involving all types of aircraft have doubled in the U.S. to 2,800 last year from the previous year.

The Senate passed a similar measure last month as part of a broader bill dealing with aviation regulation. For the measure to clear Congress, the Senate would have to take up the House bill as standalone legislation.

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