720 ILCS 5/26-7 – Disorderly Conduct With A Laser Or Laser Pointer

720 ILCS 5/26-7 – Disorderly Conduct With A Laser Or Laser Pointer

This law makes it illegal to shine a laser at a police officer or into an aircraft’s cockpit.

This Illinois law explains that it is against the law to point a laser at certain people or aircraft. It defines what counts as a laser or laser pointer and describes when the law applies and what the punishment is.

(a) Definitions. This part explains the important words used in the law:

• “Aircraft” means any flying machine, like an airplane or helicopter, but not a parachute.
• “Laser” means both of the following:
  1. A device that gives off a strong beam of light using energy from atoms or molecules, and it must be powerful enough to go over one milliwatt.
  2. A device that creates strong microwaves which can be seen by human eyes.
• “Laser pointer” means a small, hand-held tool that shines a visible light beam.
• “Laser sight” means a laser pointer that can be attached to a gun to help improve the aim.

(b) A person commits this crime if they purposely or knowingly do either of the following:

1. Point a working laser pointer at someone they know or should know is a police officer.
2. Shine a laser or other visible light into the cockpit of an airplane that is taking off, landing, or flying.

(c) The rule in part (b)(2) does not apply to authorized people who are allowed to point lasers at aircraft, such as:

1. People doing research, development, or flight testing for aircraft makers, or for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
2. Members of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security working officially for research, operations, testing, or training.

(d) Sentence: The punishment for disorderly conduct with a laser or laser pointer is a Class A misdemeanor.

View the full statute here.

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