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FBI Announces New Crackdown On Pointing Lasers At Aircraft
FBI announced a program aimed at deterring people from pointing lasers at aircraft—a felony punishable by five years in jail—and rewarding those who come forward with information about individuals who engage in this dangerous activity with up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of any individual who intentionally aims a laser at an aircraft. (www.breaking911.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
No, Michael Weiss, it is because the US Attorneys in Texas wouldn't prosecute for many years. We (police helicopters) caught several. Those few AUSAs that did prosecute were told they were wasting money. Part of that was because of some technicalities in the US Code. Part was because it wasn't a sexy headline grabber. Part of it was lack of understanding by Government lawyers whose experience only included weak laser pointers in their brief cases for power point presentations. I was one of those cases. Now the US Attorneys are taking it seriously but playing catch up ball.
I bet the lasers at Disneyworld would light up the cockpit.
Or at Stone Mountain, Georgia.
I own a 5.5 inch lomg laser pointer that looks like a ballpoint pin. It emits a red beam. Made in China in 2003. Complies with 21 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter J. Use it as a pointer during a presentation. It is powered by two AAA batteries. It emits 630-680nm. Max Output <5mw, Class IIIa.
Is this the kind of device that causes airplanes problems? Does it have such a long reach? If so, I don't need it that bad considering potential misuse.
Is this the kind of device that causes airplanes problems? Does it have such a long reach? If so, I don't need it that bad considering potential misuse.
Don't misuse it.
I have a red laser I bought at PetSmart thinking my cat would chase it after I had fun with the cats at the store. He couldn't care less for the thing.
But I did play with it by pointing at cars parked across the street and on house faces a good 250 feet away. I was amazed I could still see the dot that far away. I don't know how far up into the sky it would go.
I've only heard of the green lasers in aircraft incidents and it was a green laser that was pointed at me north of IAH.
If you ever do see a laser being pointed up, notify ATC. They'll be very interested and will call local law enforcement to give them location information.
Here's a story that led to one guy's arrest after he pointed a laser at a police helo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4C8grAGP4
I think it was last year a lawyer in England lost his law license after he pointed laser at a police helo. All that education and still incredibly stupid.
But I did play with it by pointing at cars parked across the street and on house faces a good 250 feet away. I was amazed I could still see the dot that far away. I don't know how far up into the sky it would go.
I've only heard of the green lasers in aircraft incidents and it was a green laser that was pointed at me north of IAH.
If you ever do see a laser being pointed up, notify ATC. They'll be very interested and will call local law enforcement to give them location information.
Here's a story that led to one guy's arrest after he pointed a laser at a police helo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4C8grAGP4
I think it was last year a lawyer in England lost his law license after he pointed laser at a police helo. All that education and still incredibly stupid.