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SB 103

UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH AIRCRAFT

2026 Regular Session

SB 103 criminalizes unlawful interference with aircraft operations in New Mexico, establishing penalties to deter sabotage and protect aviation safety.

action postponed indefinitely
#aviation&railroads #crimes&penalties
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Bill Summary · SB 103

Legislative bill overview

SB 103 creates criminal penalties for unlawful interference with aircraft operations in New Mexico. The bill establishes legal definitions and consequences for actions that disrupt, endanger, or impede aircraft functionality, crew operations, or passenger safety.

Why is this important

Aircraft interference—whether through physical sabotage, cyber attacks, or other means—poses serious public safety risks that can result in fatalities. Clear statutory language helps law enforcement prosecute these crimes and establishes predictable legal consequences that may deter harmful conduct.

Potential points of contention

  • Vagueness concerns: Definitions of "interference" and "unlawful" conduct may be interpreted too broadly or too narrowly, creating ambiguity about what specific actions are criminalized
  • Sentencing severity: The degree of penalties (felony classification, prison terms, fines) compared to similar crimes in other jurisdictions or existing New Mexico law
  • Overlap with federal jurisdiction: Aircraft are heavily regulated federally; questions about whether state-level criminalization duplicates or conflicts with existing federal aviation crime statutes
  • Scope ambiguity: Unclear whether the bill covers only commercial aircraft, private planes, drones, or experimental aircraft, and whether it applies to ground-based interference

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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