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Pointing Laser at Law-Enforcement Officer
March 9, 2018 by Jean Humbrecht
Pointing a Laser at a Law-Enforcement Officer in Virginia is a Specific Form of Assault and Battery
Pointing a laser beam at a law-enforcement, probation, or correctional officer in Virginia is a specific form of assault and battery. The charge, Pointing laser at Law-Enforcement Officer in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-57.01), is a crime punished with jail time.
Pointing Laser at Law-Enforcement Officer in Virginia
An offender violates Va. Code §18.2-57.01 by intentionally projecting a point of light or beam from a laser, a laser gun sight, or any device that simulates a laser at a law-enforcement officer, probation or parole officer, or correctional officer engaged in the performance of his public duties.
Pointing Laser at Law-Enforcement Officer in Virginia Penalty
Pointing a laser at a law-enforcement or correctional officer in Virginia is a Class 2 misdemeanor. It is punished with up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
Pointing Laser at Law-Enforcement Officer in Virginia Statute
§18.2-57.01. Pointing laser at law-enforcement officer unlawful; penalty.
If any person, knowing or having reason to know another person is a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 18.2-57, a probation or parole officer appointed pursuant to § 53.1-143, a correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1, or a person employed by the Department of Corrections directly involved in the care, treatment or supervision of inmates in the custody of the Department engaged in the performance of his public duties as such, intentionally projects at such other person a beam or a point of light from a laser, a laser gun sight, or any device that simulates a laser, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.