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Duma seeks criminal responsibility for “laser hooliganism”

If the airplane’s crew is blinded by laser pointers, which may disorient pilots, those responsible will face up to 7 years in prison

MOSCOW, October 19 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s State Duma on Wednesday will consider amendments to the Criminal Code punishing the use of laser pointers against airplanes up to ten years in prison.

The head of the Duma committee on constitutional legislation ad state building, Vladimir Pligin, who co-authored the document, explained that amendments to be submitted to the Criminal Code envision 3 years in prison or a 80,000 rouble fine (approximately $2,600) for “laser hooliganism”.

If the airplane’s crew is blinded by laser pointers, which may disorient pilots, those responsible will face up to 7 years in prison. If “laser hooliganism” causes the jet’s crash, the sentence will increase to 10 years in prison.

“The authorities and the society cannot stay indifferent in relation to “laser hooligans” who for absolutely immoral motives play with other people’s lives,” Pligin said stressing the need for introducing criminal responsibility for “laser hooliganism” as soon as possible.

The parliamentarian called on the society to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to find “laser hooligans”.

He underlined that over the past twelve months from 30 to 50 such cases were registered in Russia. The last case of “laser hooliganism” took place in Rostov, southern Russia.

“The fact that a pilot blinded with a laser pointer managed to land the aircraft was simply a miracle and proved high professionalism of the Russian crew. Next time this simply may not help,” Pligin said.

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