Laser Pointers Face Sales Ban  

It is reported that importation of laser pointers is likely to be outlawed after six flights into Sydney were recently thrown into chaos. Unknown individuals armed with laser pointers forced air-traffic controllers to change the flight paths of six passenger aircraft. A local law enforcement official said...

For immediate service; more information; and multi-user access (site license), non-profit organization, educational institute pricing, contact Karen Garner kgarner@accessintel.com at (301) 354-1612.

This story is only available to paid subscribers. Please login below with your username and password if you are a subscriber.

Username:
Password:
	What is my password?

Subscribe     Trial

It is reported that importation of laser pointers is likely to be outlawed after six flights into Sydney were recently thrown into chaos. Unknown individuals armed with laser pointers forced air-traffic controllers to change the flight paths of six passenger aircraft.

A local law enforcement official said: "I cannot say what the motivation of this extraordinarily irresponsible behavior has been. There is a range of possibilities from vandalism and stupidity through to outright criminality. There is every reason to treat these devices as if they are firearms and respond with that kind of severity."

New South Wales Police Minister David Campbell is also considering a ban on the laser pointers. "There are some penalties that police can impose now, but we're looking to make these items a prohibited weapon in certain circumstances, which would lead to substantial fines and possible jail terms," he said.

The Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, said the State Government had dragged its feet on banning lasers. "These lasers have been outlawed in Victoria since 1998 [and] Western Australian legislation is effective next month to do the same," he said.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said a ban would bring NSW into line with other states. A CASA spokesman, Peter Gibson, said such attacks were increasing, with five to six reported each week.

The safety issue is not limited to Australia.

Police in Albuquerque, NM apprehended two men in late February on charges of pointing a high-intensity laser at a police department helicopter... the latest in a series of similar incidents nationwide, and the second time in three years a police helicopter has been targeted over the Southwestern city.

The pilots were surprised to see the blinding flash in the aircraft's cockpit. Momentarily both pilots are completely blinded. They aborted the landing, diverting attention strictly to the instruments and climbed to a safe altitude.

The helicopter later touched down safely. When officers caught the men, the suspects told police they didn't know the incident could have hurt anyone -- and added they thought it might be funny. Police weren't as amused.