PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1370 PRINTER'S NO. 1689
No. 1157 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, BEBKO-JONES, BROWNE, COY, CRAHALLA,
GEIST, GILLESPIE, GRUCELA, PHILLIPS, SCHRODER, SHANER,
R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, LEWIS, WASHINGTON, YOUNGBLOOD,
HARHAI, S. MILLER, CIVERA AND CRUZ, APRIL 14, 2003
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MAY 6, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, prohibiting cutting instruments in
3 airports.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 6163. Cutting instruments in airports.
9 (a) Offense defined.--An individual commits a summary
10 offense if the individual intentionally or knowingly possesses a <--
11 cutting instrument on or about the individual's person or in the
12 individual's carry-on baggage at WITH THE INTENT TO TAKE THAT <--
13 CUTTING INSTRUMENT THROUGH an airport security checkpoint used
14 for screening passengers or their carry-on baggage.
15 (b) Exception.--This section shall not apply to the
16 possession and use of a tool or instrument commonly or
17 ordinarily used in a construction trade if the tool or
1 instrument is in the possession of a worker authorized by the
2 airport or air carrier to perform construction work in an
3 approved area of the airport.
4 (c) Notice.--All airport security checkpoints used for
5 screening passengers or their carry-on baggage shall be clearly
6 indentified IDENTIFIED as such. Notice shall be posted informing <--
7 individuals that they and their baggage are subject to search
8 and that the possession of cutting instruments is prohibited.
9 (d) Penalty.--An individual who violates this section
10 commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be
11 sentenced to pay a fine of up to $1,000 or to imprisonment for
12 not more than 90 days.
13 (e) Definition.--The term "cutting instrument" as used in
14 this section shall mean a device which has a cutting edge <--
15 similar to that of a knife and can be used as a weapon or a
16 cutting device specially made or adapted for concealment,
17 including, but not limited to, a box cutter, gravity knife,
18 razor blade, scissors, credit card knife, belt buckle knife,
19 hair brush knife or hair comb knife. ANY SHARP OBJECT DETERMINED <--
20 BY THE UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION TO
21 BE PROHIBITED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
22 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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