The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1358 authored by Reps. Morris, Carbaugh, Beau, and Moed on use of unmanned aerial vehicles. The bill allows a law enforcement officer to use an unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain aerial photographs or video images of a crime scene without first obtaining a search warrant in certain instances. The bill also provides that a person … [Read more...] about Use of unmanned aerial vehicles
new crime
Terrorism and extortion
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Freeman’s SB 240 on terrorism and extortion. The bill does the following: repeals and replaces in a new article the offense of possession, use, or manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction, agricultural terrorism, terroristic mischief, and terroristic deception specifies that "terrorism" includes the unlawful threat o … [Read more...] about Terrorism and extortion
Air or gas operated weapons on school property
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Koch’s SB 383 on air or gas operated weapon on school property. The bill provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally points an air or gas operated weapon designed to expel a metal projectile at another person while present on a school bus or property affiliated with, belonging to, or operated by an accredited n … [Read more...] about Air or gas operated weapons on school property
Theft by public servants
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Lauer’s HB 1192 on theft by public servants. The original bill required that a public servant who commits theft of public funds having a value of at least $750 be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least 30 days as part of the sentence; and it specified that: (1) the mandatory term is not suspendible; and (2) t … [Read more...] about Theft by public servants
Traffic crimes
The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Koch’s SB 186 on enhancing penalties for some traffic crimes, like Operating While Intoxicated crimes and Leaving the Scene of the Accident, and consecutive sentencing for certain OWI crimes. The bill was amended in hearing to create a new crime of OWI resulting in catastrophic injury. This will carry the same penalty a … [Read more...] about Traffic crimes