Someone called the police?

I'm freaked out right now because I have a 200 Mw green laser pointer, and I shined it down the sidewalk, and this lady on the other side of the sidewalk kind of far away, started screaming her head off. "You shined it at me! I'm going to (insert f word end with ing.) call 911 and kill you! You shined it at me! She was also walking away really fast. I'm kind of scared the cops will get me.

Sounds like an empty threat. People feel the need to get outraged at everything and anything. But you didnt point it at her (I hope?) . Last I checked, pointing a laser at a sidewalk isnt illegal, but then again we dont know what country you are in (adding your location to your profile will help).

Also, that "200mW" last you got is probably more like 50mW. Look around the forums- you will find plenty of legitimate places to buy lasers that won't lie to you about output power

crazyspaz said:

Sounds like an empty threat. People feel the need to get outraged at everything and anything. But you didnt point it at her (I hope?) . Last I checked, pointing a laser at a sidewalk isnt illegal, but then again we dont know what country you are in (adding your location to your profile will help).

Also, that "200mW" last you got is probably more like 50mW. Look around the forums- you will find plenty of legitimate places to buy lasers that won't lie to you about output power

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He's in the USA if the lady said "call 911"

-Alex

Alway's buy a low powered 5mW laser in case they do show up.

Tha Greenlander said:

He's in the USA if the lady said "call 911"

-Alex

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I'm actually a she and yes I'm in the USA, though I bought the laser from a different country since You can not easily find these in USA. No one showed up though, I guess I kind of over freaked out. I've never had that threat before though so I got scared. X3

Tha Greenlander said:

He's in the USA if the lady said "call 911"

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....because the USA is the only country with 911....?

Shes going to call the cops, AND kill you? wow man

Just be calm and collect.

rhd said:

....because the USA is the only country with 911....?

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I apologize. Did some more research and Canada, along with some countries in South America use 9-1-1 aswell

-Alex

Don't worry about it at all. It isn't illegal in the US to shine it on the sidewalk. It's crazy how people can get so freaked out in situations like this. Who knows, maybe she thought it was a snipers target dot that was trying to shoot her.

I love how she said "I'm going to call 911 and kill you." Maybe she meant that you should call 911, BECAUSE she is going to kill you. In which case I wouldn't worry about her attacking, you have a laser.

some of you need to check your facts-- she is 15- and yes it is NOT legal to display, in public any laser >5 mW-- she is NOT out in the boonies- there really are laser police-
and just how does one prove the laser was not aimed at the citizen-??

you need to learn from this-

laser owners have no specail rights- you can be treated just like a laser show company that has no variance- no show plan- NO LSO on staff- no FAA plan-no compliant FDA gear and no biz being in the laser show biz--

I pray the OP has the sense to never take that laser to school- it can be easily taken away and very quickly harm some innocent.

see this young lady

laserpointersafety.com
see the 'sentences'
some got a felonies on thier records forever..
and 2 years for a 24 yr old female in the USA..

I would assume you will be 'watched' for some time to come- so keep that in mind.

You can never tell when its dark-- who is watching..
on TV every night guns with lasers mounted on them--- you could get shot--and killed. Your neighbor may have never called- or did and they choose to not come out- OR they came and did not see you- if called it will be kept as a record and they may look harder the next time-

Lasers-- harmless prank?
NO ITS a big fine and prison time--


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I am being tough on you because this is serious..

Funny story, i have actially in two different instances assisted the police by pointing my 2w blue in the direction of the purpotraitors. And neither cops ever stopped me.

I wouldnt worry but next time u should point at your feet or up first before aiming horizontally.
I always watch out for cars as not to cause an accident.

:tsk:FUNNY?-:crackup: really ...you find this funny?.... is that why you have red rep==????:tsk::tsk::tsk:

It's not funny, it is an issue that needs to be fixed. Like I said and Hak said, you never know what the one seeing the laser thinks it is. If you see people around I wouldn't even use your laser. It isn't worth whatever problems it could cause, as you found out Arielle. Even if it's rare that someone would call the cops or cops showing up, it's just not worth it shining your laser unless you know there is no possible trouble or people around to cause trouble.
Pretend it's a weapon, you wouldn't go around showing weapons while people are around. Be safe.

ATprotecter said:

It's not funny, it is an issue that needs to be fixed. Like I said and Hak said, you never know what the one seeing the laser thinks it is. If you see people around I wouldn't even use your laser. It isn't worth whatever problems it could cause, as you found out Arielle. Even if it's rare that someone would call the cops or cops showing up, it's just not worth it shining your laser unless you know there is no possible trouble or people around to cause trouble.

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Perfectly said. If I may I think adding a story which happened to me which almost ended up bringing me in jail with a felony at 13 years old.

"I had ordered this "200mW" cheapo 532nm laser off of a Chinese website and decided one night to shine it outside and see how bright the beam was, now be aware this was before I learned the dangers of lasers and even before I joined LPF. Anyway, basically on our old house we had my moms entire family living there and one of them was wanted by the police due to warrants. Well...I did the stupid mistake of shining my "200mW" at a car when I say headlights coming up the driveway(not realizing) it was cops and they basically came knocking with their guns pulled(since the man they were looking after owned guns and the green beam could have been on a gun). They took my laser to make sure it was only that and gave me 2 options:

1) They take my laser and I never do this again
2) They take me to jail with a felony on my record

I chose #1 of course. But that just shows how quickly stuff can go from you being in control to others!

-Alex

How old are you? i dont think you are old enough to have such powerful lasers and shine them on the street thats not what they are meant for, its wrong to do that and draw attention to yourself ofc people freak out its too many of those that buy lasers and shine them at airplanes, police etc all it takes is a hit of a second and you can have permanent eye damage.. be more cautious where you use it next time.

I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon of "treat your laser like a gun" or whatnot, but the fact is you do need to LOOK and THINK before you point. You need to look at your intended target object, and then you need to look at what is BEHIND that object - it could be a safe backstop like some woods, but it could also be a highway or a house or some building or other. A mistake in this regard can quite literally ruin your life, and that's not a joke or even an exaggeration.

Don't take the shit to school. It used to be OK to prank your friends or teachers but that was back when all you could feasibly get was <5mW and the worst punishment might be a detention for disrupting class. That was funny enough, but nowadays with class IIIb being the rule rather than the exception, people will not be so willing to laugh. Even if your pointer really is <5mW there have been too many incidents and people won't be amused. They can't be - cannot afford to be - the liability risks are too high. Save yourself the trouble and leave it at home.

And FFS please don't point it at any vehicles, particularly airplanes, because if you do you will bite it for a couple of years, federal time, and will hasten the ending of this hobby.

You can play with your lasers safely - I do it every day. You just need to THINK before you point - think BEHIND (what you are pointing at) and think AHEAD (how might people who see it react?) - be mindful and keep safety at the front of that. Mindless laser pointing will lead to bad results. Just keep a clear head and try to picture yourself as being on the receiving end of somebody else's laser pointer. Do that and you'll save yourself and others a lot of trouble.

Thanks, and safe (and happy) lasing.