U.S. Code » 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

49 U.S.C. § 46503

Interference with security screening personnel

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(a)In General.—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)Airport and Air Carrier Employees.—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.(Added Pub. L. 107–71, title I, § 114(a), Nov. 19, 2001, 115 Stat. 623; amended Pub. L. 118–63, title IV, § 436, May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1176.)Editorial NotesPrior 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).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2010–2022 · leading case: United States v. Adam Gardenhire, 784 F.3d 1277 (9th Cir. 2015).
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United States v. Adam Gardenhire, 784 F.3d 1277 (9th Cir. 2015). · cites it 2× “§ 1992 (a)(6) (incapacitating the operator of a mass transportation vehicle with intent to endanger safety), 49 U.S.C. § 46503 (assaulting an airport employee), 49 U.”
Rohan Ramsingh v. TSA, 40 F.4th 625 (D.C. Cir. 2022). “AIT machines can screen for 1 Interference with security personnel that rises to the level of assault is also subject to criminal penalties under 49 U.S.C. § 46503 . 4 both metallic and non-metallic threats, addressing “a critical weakness in aviation security” that existed when…”
United States v. Kim Watson, 371 F. App'x 534 (5th Cir. 2010). · cites it 3× “PER CURIAM: * Defendant-Appellant Kim Rochell Watson (“Watson”) appeals her conviction and sentence for interfering with airport security personnel in violation 49 U.S.C. § 46503 . Ms. Watson claims: 1) she was prejudiced by a material variance between the indictment and the…”
United States v. Jordan Moore (4th Cir. 2019). “PER CURIAM: Jordan Lee Moore pled guilty to interference with security screening personnel, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46503 (2012). The district court sentenced Moore to 14 months’ imprisonment.”
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