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Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-16-515

Current as of January 02, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) It is an offense for a person to knowingly activate and point a laser pointer or other device utilizing a laser beam at an individual known to be a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or other emergency service personnel while the individual is in the performance of the individual's official duties, with the intent to place the individual in fear of serious bodily injury or death.

(b) In order for subsection (a) to apply:

(1) The law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or other emergency service personnel must actually be placed in fear of serious bodily injury or death;

(2) The fear must be real or honestly believed to be real at the time; and

(3) Based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the defendant's conduct, the fear must be founded upon reasonable grounds.

(c) It is an offense for a person to knowingly shine or aim a light, laser, horn, or other mechanism towards the head of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or other emergency service personnel while the individual is in the performance of the individual's official duties with intent to cause bodily injury.

(d)(1) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(2) A violation of subsection (c) is a Class A misdemeanor, and includes a mandatory fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) and a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty (30) days incarceration. The defendant shall not be eligible for release from confinement until the defendant has served the entire thirty-day mandatory minimum sentence.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-16-515 - last updated January 02, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-39-criminal-offenses/tn-code-sect-39-16-515/

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