Unlawful discharge of laser.
Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.14.210
in effect12A.14.210 - Unlawful discharge of laser.
A. A person is guilty of unlawful discharge of a laser if he or she knowingly and maliciously discharges a laser:
1. At a person who is operating a motor vehicle at the time, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of a motor vehicle by negatively affecting the driver; or
2. At any of the following persons and causing a substantial risk of the following described impairment or interruption:
a. At a law enforcement officer or other employee of a law enforcement agency who is performing his or her official duties, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of a law enforcement vehicle or causing an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by negatively affecting the officer or employee; or
b. At a pilot, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of an aircraft or causing an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by negatively affecting the pilot; or
c. At a firefighter or other employee of a fire department, county fire marshal's office, county fire prevention bureau, or fire protection district who is performing his or her official duties, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of an emergency vehicle or causing an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by negatively affecting the firefighter or employee; or
d. At a transit operator or driver of a public or private transit company while that person is performing his or her official duties, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of a transit vehicle or causing an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by negatively affecting the operator or driver; or
e. At a school bus driver employed by a school district or private company while the driver is performing his or her official duties, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of a school bus or causing an interruption or impairment of service by negatively affecting the bus driver; or
3. At a person in order to intimidate or threaten that person.
B. For purposes of this section:
1. "Aircraft" means any contrivance known or hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in air.
2. "Laser" means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission which is visible to the human eye.
C. This section does not apply to the conduct of a laser development activity by or on behalf of the United States armed forces.
(Ord. 124301, § 31, 2013)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT12ACRCO_SUBTITLE_ICRCO_CH12A.14WECO_12A.14.210UNDILAFetched: 11/1/2026