§ 23-1-39.1. Laser pointing device. (a) For purposes of this section, "laser pointing device" means any hand held device that emits light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation which is visible to the human eye.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to focus, point, or shine a laser beam on another person or an animal in a manner that is intended to alarm, annoy, harass, or harm the person or animal.

(c) No person, firm, corporation, or association shall sell, offer to sell, lease, give, or otherwise provide a laser pointing device to any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

(d) No person, firm, corporation, or association engaged in the sale of laser pointing devices shall display, hold, store, or offer for sale laser pointing devices unless these devices are securely contained within a sealed or locked case, or located behind a service counter, or stored in any other manner which restricts access to the laser pointing devices by customers and/or the general public.

(e) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) or any person, firm, corporation, or association who violates subsection (c) of this section shall, upon a first conviction, be deemed guilty of a violation and fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), and upon a second or subsequent conviction, shall be deemed guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and/or imprisoned for not more than six (6) months. Any person, firm, corporation, or association who violates the provisions of subsection (d) shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(f) This section shall not apply to members of the Rhode Island state police or to members of any city or town police department or any state or federal law enforcement officer in the performance of their official duties.

History of Section. (P.L. 1999, ch. 440, § 1.)