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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>366619</law_id><section_number>5.1-22</section_number><catch_line>Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="9" identifier="5.1">Aviation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Aircraft, Airmen and Airports Generally</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="2">Illegal Operation, Etc.; Procedure; Penalties</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span>, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span>&#x2019;s operator or the life of any other <span class="dictionary">person</span>, the <span class="dictionary">person</span> interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light from a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span> is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <span class="dictionary">Venue</span> for the issuance of a warrant for the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of any such <span class="dictionary">person</span> is hereby conferred upon any <span class="dictionary">court</span> having criminal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth where the <span class="dictionary">aircraft</span> either took off prior to such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, or in or over which the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> occurred.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 5-14.3; 1958, c. 561, &#xA7; 3; 1966, c. 576; 1983, c. 560; 2012, c. 398.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
