Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73
§46503 Interference with security screening personnel
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iv— - enforcement and penalties › Chapter CHAPTER 465— - SPECIAL AIRCRAFT JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES › § 46503
Summary
At a U.S. commercial airport, anyone who assaults an employee who has security duties and stops them from doing their job can be fined under federal law, jailed up to 10 years, or both. Using a dangerous weapon can bring any term of years or life. Security duties include ticketing, check‑in, baggage claim, and boarding.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §46503
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)An individual in an area within a commercial service airport in the United States who, by assaulting a Federal, airport, or air carrier employee who has security duties within the airport, interferes with the performance of the duties of the employee or lessens the ability of the employee to perform those duties, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. If the individual used a dangerous weapon in committing the assault or interference, the individual may be imprisoned for any term of years or life imprisonment.
(b)For purposes of this section, an airport or air carrier employee who has security duties within the airport includes an airport or air carrier employee performing ticketing, check-in, baggage claim, or boarding functions.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 46503, Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1242, provided for death penalty sentencing procedure for individuals convicted of aircraft piracy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60003(b)(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1970.
Amendments
2024—Pub. L. 118–63 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 46503
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73