Subdivision 1.Misdemeanor.

Every person who:

Attorney's Note

Under the Minnesota Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Gross misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $3,000
Misdemeanorup to 90 daysup to $1,000
For details, see § 609.02

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Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 360.075

  • Aircraft: means any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the air, but excluding parachutes. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Airman: means any individual who engages, as the person in command, or as pilot, mechanic, or member of the crew, in the navigation of aircraft while under way and (excepting individuals employed outside the United States, any individual employed by a manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances to perform duties as inspector or mechanic in connection therewith, and any individual performing inspection or mechanical duties in connection with aircraft owned or operated by that individual) any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling, or repair of aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances; and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher or air-traffic control tower operator. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Airport: means any area of land or water, except a restricted landing area, which is designed for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, surfacing, or repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo, and all appurtenant areas used or suitable for airport buildings or other airport facilities, and all appurtenant rights-of-way, whether heretofore or hereafter established. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of transportation of the state of Minnesota. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Department: means the Minnesota Department of Transportation. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Municipality: means a city of any class, including a city organized under a charter framed pursuant to the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, article IV, section 36, article XI, section 4, or article XII, section 5, a county, a town, or a statutory city in this state, the regents of the University of Minnesota, and any other political subdivision, public corporation, authority, or district in this state which is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, maintain, improve, and operate airports and other air navigation facilities. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic; and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other similar representative thereof. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Public aircraft: means an aircraft used exclusively in the service of any government or of any political subdivision thereof, including the government of any state, territory or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, but not including any government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • this state: means the state of Minnesota. See Minnesota Statutes 360.013

(1) operates an aircraft either on or over land or water in this state without the consent of the owner of such aircraft;

(2) operates aircraft while in the possession of any federal license, certificate, or permit or any certificate of registration issued by the Transportation Department of this state, or displays, or causes or permits to be displayed, such federal license, certificate, or permit or such state certificate of registration, knowing either to have been canceled, revoked, suspended, or altered;

(3) lends to, or knowingly permits the use of by, one not entitled thereto of any federal airman‘s or aircraft license, certificate, or permit, or any state airman’s or aircraft certificate of registration issued to that person;

(4) displays or represents as the person’s own any federal airman’s or aircraft license, certificate, or permit or any state airman’s or aircraft certificate of registration not issued to that person;

(5) tampers with, climbs upon or into, makes use of, or navigates any aircraft without the knowledge or consent of the owner or person having control thereof, whether while the same is in motion or at rest, or hurls stones or any other missiles at aircraft, or the occupants thereof, or otherwise damages or interferes with the same, or places upon any portion of any airport any object, obstruction, or other device tending to injure aircraft or parts thereof;

(6) uses a false or fictitious name, gives a false or fictitious address, knowingly makes any false statement or report, or knowingly conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits a fraud in any application or form required under the provisions of sections 360.011 to 360.076, or by any rules or orders of the commissioner;

(7) operates any aircraft in such a manner as to indicate either a willful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property;

(8) carries on or over land or water in this state in an aircraft other than a public aircraft any explosive substance except as permitted by the Federal Explosives Act, as amended by Public Law 77-775;

(9) discharges a gun, pistol, or other weapon in or from any aircraft in this state except as the hunting of certain wild animals from aircraft may be permitted by other laws of this state, or unless the person is the pilot or officer in command of the aircraft or a peace officer or a member of the military or naval forces of the United States, engaged in the performance of duty;

(10) carries in any aircraft, other than a public aircraft, any shotgun, rifle, pistol, or small arms ammunition except in the manner in which such articles may be lawfully carried in motor vehicles in this state, or is a person excepted from the provisions of clause (9);

(11) engages in acrobatic or stunt flying without being equipped with a parachute and without providing any other occupants of the aircraft with parachutes and requiring that they be worn;

(12) while in flying over a thickly inhabited area or over a public gathering in this state, engages in trick or acrobatic flying or in any acrobatic feat;

(13) except while in landing or taking off, flies at such low levels as to endanger persons on the surface beneath, or engages in advertising through the playing of music or transcribed or oral announcements, or makes any noise with any siren, horn, whistle, or other audible device which is not necessary for the normal operation of the aircraft, except that sound amplifying devices may be used in aircraft when operated by or under the authority of any agency of the state or federal government for the purpose of giving warning or instructions to persons on the ground;

(14) drops any object, except loose water, loose fuel, or loose sand ballast, without the prior written consent of the commissioner of transportation and the prior written consent of the municipality or property owner where objects may land; drops objects from an aircraft that endanger person or property on the ground, or drops leaflets for any purpose whatsoever; or

(15) while in flight in an aircraft, whether as a pilot, passenger, or otherwise, endangers, kills, or attempts to kill any birds or animals or uses any aircraft for the purpose of concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up migratory waterfowl;

except as may be permitted by other laws of this state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Subd. 2.Gross misdemeanor.

Every person who shall commit any of the acts specified in subdivision 1 for a second or other subsequent time shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 1963 c 753 art 2 s 17]

Subd. 4.

[Repealed, 1965 c 45 s 73]

Subd. 5.Careless or reckless operation.

Every person who operates an aircraft in the air or on the ground or water, in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Subd. 6.Additional penalties for certain violations.

For any violation of subdivisions 1 and 5, section 360.0752, or of any rule issued pursuant to section 360.015, in addition to the penalties provided in this section or section 360.0752, or as a condition to the suspension of a sentence which may be imposed pursuant thereto, the court in its discretion may prohibit the violator from operating an aircraft within the state for such period as it may determine, but not to exceed one year. Violation of the duly imposed prohibition of the court may be punished as a contempt of court. Upon a plea of guilty or conviction under said sections, in any case involving an airman, the court shall issue an order prohibiting the airman from exercising, in the state of Minnesota, the privileges granted to the airman by federal certificate for a period, in the discretion of the court, not to exceed one year, and shall notify the commissioner of any action involving a violation under this section or section 360.0752 by mailing a report to the commissioner showing the name and address of the violator, the offense charged, the time and place of violation, the plea, the finding of the court or jury, and the penalty imposed.

Subd. 7.

[Repealed, 1990 c 602 art 6 s 6]