Aussie Government Bans Laser Pointers

[TVR-190]

The New South Wales Government has announced that it is banning laser pointers after a spate incidents involving aeroplanes.

The new laws mean that the lasers will be illegal without a prohibited weapons permit.

Recently a number of pilots have reported that lasers have been shone into their ****pits during take-offs and landings.

Premier Morris Iemma says people caught with the devices could face between two to 14 years in jail.

"I cannot underestimate the potential, the catastrophic consequences if a plane is brought down by one of these fools, these idiots," he said.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says making it illegal to carry lasers will help police crack down on the improper use of the devices.

"We have had incidents where we have detected somebody with a laser in a vehicle, we weren't in a position to act," he said.

The Government says people like astronomers will be allowed to have lasers if they apply for a permit.

A permit costs 127 dollars for 5 years and must have a valid reason.

But i wont be handing in my 30Mw laser any time soon in fact i might buy a few more.

BTW everyone sign the petition Anti Laser Ban*-*Online Petition

Laws come into effect July 1st

[System]

lol love it how it censores '****' in the word ****pit....

meh who needs em anyway? apart from teachers to use as pointers in class i guess... they must b talkin bout the POWERFUL ones right?

*EDIT*

....lulz ^

[TVR-190]

anything over 1Mw will be banned, 1mw being just over you cheap corner store red laser.

its not really about people having the laser, its more about the governemtn banning anything they see as dangerous, sort of like them saying

"lets ban knives cause someone could get stabbed"

when they should concentrating on stopping the people who use them for bad rather then disadvantaging the whole public

[Kikki]

Mate, I live right near the Perth Airport.... There is no way I am going to try and stop the ban lol my luck a plane will fall on my house.

[TVR-190]

for someone to hit a plane with one, they would need a laser of 200Mw+, be within a few Km of the airport itself, and to hit a planes ****pit with a laser dot a few mm in width would require perfect aim, at best you would hit the ****pit for a 10th of a millisecond.

[/rant]

[Kikki]

So what do you use the laser pointers for anyway?

[VrWagz1]

Im impartial about the ban. But i bought one last month just in case.

[minux]

Be buggered if im handing in my modified laser pointer

[NORTI]

planes & traffic targetted here last night in SA, Police carrying on about fines & imprisonment for those responsible. Why must ****wits, destroy things for the rest of us??

High powered lasers can be used in astronomy for one example Christie.

[commsirac]

A permit costs 127 dollars for 5 years and must have a valid reason.

But i wont be handing in my 30Mw laser any time soon in fact i might buy a few more.

BTW everyone sign the petition Anti Laser Ban*-*Online Petition

Laws come into effect July 1st

Who are you kidding, a 30Mw laser, you'd need a power station to run it.

Or dont you know the correct abbreviations: or is your laser really 30mW?

[UNKNOWN]

What a joke, somethings causing a problem just ban it. What kind of mentality does our Government have...

Use lasers properly... Aim them at Taxi drivers!

[EvoVIIIJDM]

Unless its for weapons, laser pointers are for geeks. Lamos galore.

[minux]

Unless its for weapons, laser pointers are for geeks. Lamos galore.

Ahh the problem with these lasers is they are so visible.

Infrared laser burns at the footy for the loudmouths FTW!!

I'd like to thank the Australian Army for my IR laser and teaching us the modifications to make these such an effective tool.

[TVR-190]

Who are you kidding, a 30Mw laser, you'd need a power station to run it.

Or dont you know the correct abbreviations: or is your laser really 30mW?

30mW

my mistake, just got a 50mW also

[VL_5SPEED]

Bahahaha . Kids laser pointers... Australia says NO.

[Shounak]

Who cares? People giving presentations will still be able to buy adequate lasers for their purpose.

Why does anyone need a laser stronger than that? If they have a valid reason, they will be allowed to have one.

All this does is make a little bit onerous on the people who use high powered lasers for legit purposes, but they can blame the idiots screwing around for that.

[Farlig]

Quick go on the Asian online stores and get your 200mW green lasers for 50$ delivered.
Seriously thou, lasers are only fun for so long before they collect dust in a draw, thats were mine are, used them about 10 years ago when i was in high school lol

[Farlig]

Who cares? People giving presentations will still be able to buy adequate lasers for their purpose.

Why does anyone need a laser stronger than that? If they have a valid reason, they will be allowed to have one.

All this does is make a little bit onerous on the people who use high powered lasers for legit purposes, but they can blame the idiots screwing around for that.

make the permits free then?
i have no reason to need a laser that strong, but now i feel another liberty has been taken away should i have the want to flash it around on walls, but now my lasers will stay with my knuckle dusters and bb guns

[jules]

i can't understand how someone could be that stupid to point a laser at an aircraft. seriously you have to be a real f***wit to think that's a fulfilling way to pass your time.

if you're going to do something that braindead, at least stand to profit from it, like the Bali 9.

[Full Spectrum]

This was always on the cards,
Does anyone really need them?.

Be hit in the eye with one of these and you wont be happy..

Last year i was at the movies enjoying a good flick, With about 10 teenagers yelling and screaming as always.. One of them had a laser pointer and he was having fun pointing this at the screen.. He was in for a rude awakening, A man with his young kids got up grabbed it and told them all too shut up or get out, They gave some lip he said something quite to them and they shut up..
After the movie he returned the laser to the kid.
Turns out he was an off duty Cop.. He went easy on them, I would have scrapped the laser.
Worst time too go to the movies on holidays.

Kids have them for no reason at all. If you need a pointer for a board get a stick.

[Tree cutter]

I think they should just make a lot harsher penalty's for anyone caught shining one into peoples eyes. It seems to be the way the country is going now ,to punish everone for the problems a few idiots cause.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Why must ****wits, destroy things for the rest of us??

Christie.

Because the people that do such things usually dont care for the law so when they do things like this and laws are put into force they just continue doing it anyway, and there is the problem!
so the every day law abiding citizen is the one who pays, its the same as not being able to have fire works/crackers anymore

[feistl]

Is it illegal to bring them into the country?

Ive currently got a 20mw green laser from a military rifle. Im looking at buying a 300mw laser from the UK ($270). Apparently it can be seen from 150kms away and burn matches/pop balloons.

Not that i really need a 300mw one, but i actually carry the 20mw when going on hikes etc. I figure it shines a beam in the air at night which could be handy if i get stuck etc.

I beleive you can easily see the beam during the day on a 300mw version.

[STEALTHY™]

Who cares? People giving presentations will still be able to buy adequate lasers for their purpose.

Why does anyone need a laser stronger than that? If they have a valid reason, they will be allowed to have one.

All this does is make a little bit onerous on the people who use high powered lasers for legit purposes, but they can blame the idiots screwing around for that.

I have to disagree. Its shown time and time again bans only effect law abiding people. The ones shining it at planes will still do this, and still be able to get hold of them.
Anyone remember the gun laws here, that was a huge joke....

[TVR-190]

they will be banned as of July 1st

not even offering a buy back scheme, do they really expect people to get rid of them