---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 46503"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "46503"
heading: "Interference with security screening personnel"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/46503"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iv — enforcement and penalties"
  - "Chapter 465 — Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States"
---

# §46503. Interference with security screening personnel

- (a) **In General.—** An individual in an area within a commercial service [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) in the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) who, by assaulting a Federal, [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9), or [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) [employee](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) who has security duties within the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9), interferes with the performance of the duties of the [employee](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) or lessens the ability of the [employee](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) to perform those duties, shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) or [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) [employee](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) who has security duties within the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) includes an [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) or [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) [employee](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) performing ticketing, check-in, baggage claim, or boarding functions.

## Source credit

(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.)

## Notes

### 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).