HOUSE BILL No. 5902

 

March 21, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Hildenbrand and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled

 

"The Michigan penal code,"

 

by amending section 224d (MCL 750.224d), as amended by 1992 PA 4.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 224d. (1) As used in this section and section 224, "self-

 

defense spray device" means a device to which all of the following

 

apply:

 

     (a) The device is capable of carrying, and ejects, releases,

 

or emits 1 of the following:

 

     (i) Not more than 35 grams of any combination of

 

orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile and inert ingredients.

 

     (ii) A solution containing not more than 2% oleoresin capsicum

 

or, for a person described in subsection (5)(a) or (c), not more

 

than 10% oleoresin capsicum.


 

     (b) The device does not eject, release, or emit any gas or

 

substance that will temporarily or permanently disable,

 

incapacitate, injure, or harm a person with whom the gas or

 

substance comes in contact, other than the substance described in

 

subdivision (a)(i) or (ii).

 

     (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who

 

uses a self-defense spray device to eject, release, or emit

 

orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile or oleoresin capsicum at another

 

person is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for

 

not more than 2 years, or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or

 

both.

 

     (3) If a person uses a self-defense spray device during the

 

commission of a crime to eject, release, or emit

 

orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile or oleoresin capsicum or threatens

 

to use a self-defense spray device during the commission of a crime

 

to temporarily or permanently disable another person, the judge who

 

imposes sentence upon a conviction for that crime shall consider

 

the defendant's use or threatened use of the self-defense spray

 

device as a reason for enhancing the sentence.

 

     (4) A person shall not sell a self-defense spray device to a

 

minor. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a

 

misdemeanor.

 

     (5) Subsection (2) does not prohibit  either  any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The reasonable use of a self-defense spray device by a law

 

enforcement officer in the performance of the law enforcement

 

officer's duty.


 

     (b) The reasonable use of a self-defense spray device by a

 

person in the protection of a person or property under

 

circumstances  which  that would justify the person's use of

 

physical force.

 

     (c) The reasonable use of a self-defense spray by a private

 

detective or private investigator as defined in section 2 of the

 

private detective license act, 1965 PA 285, MCL 338.822, or by a

 

private security guard as defined in section 2 of the private

 

security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL

 

338.1052, if the private detective, private investigator, or

 

private security guard successfully completed a course in the use

 

of a self-defense spray that was provided by a private entity and

 

approved by the department of labor and economic growth for

 

purposes of this subdivision.