Possessing, carrying, or attempting to possess certain items in sterile area of airport; prohibitions; violations; penalties; exceptions; other violations; consecutive terms of imprisonment; definitions.
MCL 259.80f
in effect259.80f. Possessing, carrying, or attempting to possess certain items in sterile area of airport; prohibitions; violations; penalties; exceptions; other violations; consecutive terms of imprisonment; definitions.
Sec. 80f.
(1) An individual shall not possess, carry, or attempt to possess or carry any of the following in a sterile area of a commercial airport:
(a) Firearm.
(b) Explosive.
(c) Knife with a blade of any length.
(d) Razor, box cutter, or item with a similar blade.
(e) Dangerous weapon.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(3) An individual who violates subsection (1) while doing any of the following is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both:
(a) Getting on or attempting to get on an aircraft.
(b) Placing, attempting to place, or attempting to have placed on an aircraft an item listed in subsection (1).
(c) Committing or attempting to commit a felony.
(4) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A peace officer of a duly authorized police agency of this state, a political subdivision of this state, another state, a political subdivision of another state, or the United States.
(b) An individual regularly employed by the department of corrections and authorized in writing by the director of the department of corrections to possess or carry an item listed in subsection (1) during the performance of the individual's duties or while going to or returning from the individual's duties.
(c) A member of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard while possessing or carrying an item listed in subsection (1) in the line of duty.
(d) A member of the national guard, armed forces reserves, or other duly authorized military organization while on duty or drill or while possessing or carrying an item listed in subsection (1) for purposes of that military organization.
(e) Security personnel employed to enforce federal regulations for access to a sterile area.
(f) A court officer while engaged in the court officer's duties as authorized by a court.
(g) An airline or airport employee as authorized by the employee's employer.
(5) This section does not prohibit the individual from being charged with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law committed by that individual while violating this section.
(6) A term of imprisonment imposed under this section may be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed for a violation of law arising out of the same transaction.
(7) As used in this section:
(a) "Commercial airport" means an airport that has regularly scheduled commercial flights to and from other destinations.
(b) "Felony" means that term as defined in section 1 of chapter I of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 761.1, or a violation of a law of the United States that is designated as a felony or that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than 1 year.
(c) "Sterile area" means a portion of an airport defined in an airport security program approved by the Transportation Security Administration under 49 CFR 1542.101 that provides passengers access to boarding aircraft and to which the access generally is controlled by the Transportation Security Administration, or by an aircraft operator under 49 CFR part 1544 or a foreign air carrier under 49 CFR part 1546, through the screening of individuals and property.
Add. 2001, Act 225, Eff. Apr. 1, 2002; Am. 2023, Act 219, Eff. Feb. 13, 2024
Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-259-80fFetched: 10/20/2026