GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

SESSION LAW 1999-401
SENATE BILL 348

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE MISUSE OF LASER DEVICES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 8 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14-34.8.  Criminal use of laser device.
(a)	For purposes of this section, the term 'laser' means light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
(b)	It is unlawful intentionally to point a laser device at a law enforcement officer, or at the head or face of another person, while the device is emitting a laser beam.
(c)	A violation of this section is an infraction.
(d)	This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who uses a laser device in discharging or attempting to discharge the officer's official duties.  This section does not apply to a health care professional who uses a laser device in providing services within the scope of practice of that professional nor to any other person who is licensed or authorized by law to use a laser device or uses it in the performance of the person's official duties.
(e)	This section does not apply to laser tag, paintball guns, and other similar games and devices using light emitting diode (LED) technology."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 1999, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 20th day of July, 1999.

s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 9:29 p.m. this 5th day of August, 1999