A warning for those in ocean city nj

mfo · Jul 20, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
Being an NJ resident myself... I'll second that.

The law is retarded though, I mean anything can be used to mal intent - I want to see them ban lighters... someone could start a fire with them after all:banghead:

Also I highly doubt cops are about to start carrying around portable LPM's in ocean city.... 1mW stickers anyone:eg:

Probable cause =\

eexe · Jul 20, 2011

What is the difference between a laser pointer and a portable/handheld laser? I mean, we don't call a Hercules a pointer?

InfinitusEquitas · Jul 20, 2011

mfo said:
Probable cause =\

I'm running a fever and quite tired from not sleeping enough... can you expand on what you mean?

mfo · Jul 20, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
I'm running a fever and quite tired from not sleeping enough... can you expand on what you mean?

The cops aren't stupid. If they see a solid green beam cutting across the sky, they're going to say "I think it's more than 1mW, it's coming with me until we can verify its output".

InfinitusEquitas · Jul 20, 2011

mfo said:
The cops aren't stupid. If they see a solid green beam cutting across the sky, they're going to say "I think it's more than 1mW, it's coming with me until we can verify its output".

Response:

Here you go officer, I thought it was 1mW - I mean it's labeled, I thought it was only 1mW.

Personally I started carrying one of swimminsurfer's overspec pens for this exact reason....

I know I'm :horse: but imho the way to deal with the laser problem is education first, registration second, draconian measures third.

In this case they decided to cut out education and skip to fines. I doubt anyone will actually serve time over this, aside from complete idiots who do point at cops/vehicles/people, but tickets are another story altogether.

mfo · Jul 20, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
Response:

Personally I started carrying one of swimminsurfer's overspec pens for this exact reason....

I know I'm :horse: but imho the way to deal with the laser problem is education first, registration second, draconian measures third.

In this case they decided to cut out education and skip to fines. I doubt anyone will actually serve time over this, aside from complete idiots who do point at cops/vehicles/people, but tickets are another story altogether.

Ignorance will not allow you to break the law and get away with it. The majority of cops are assholes and will take your laser away from you until they can at least verify the output and then return it to you if it's in compliance.

PersonGuyDude · Jul 20, 2011

mfo said:
The cops aren't stupid. If they see a solid green beam cutting across the sky, they're going to say "I think it's more than 1mW, it's coming with me until we can verify its output".

While I agree with you there, most cops are ignorant of the law. Police officers cannot seize property with mere "probably cause". That would require a search warrant specifically targeting the piece of property to be seized, or a different court order that I forget the name for, hard to remember since it's latin...
Of course, that doesn't mean that they won't try to search/seize. Always say that you do not consent to a search of any kind.

mfo · Jul 20, 2011

PersonGuyDude said:
While I agree with you there, most cops are ignorant of the law. Police officers cannot seize property with mere "probably cause". That would require a search warrant specifically targeting the piece of property to be seized, or a different court order that I forget the name for, hard to remember since it's latin...
Of course, that doesn't mean that they won't try to search/seize. Always say that you do not consent to a search of any kind.

There are a million loop holes for them to take your laser. If you resist giving it to them, you'll probably end up getting arrested and still having your laser taken away.

End of the day, arguing with a cop = bad idea.

PersonGuyDude · Jul 20, 2011

mfo said:
There are a million loop holes for them to take your laser. If you resist giving it to them, you'll probably end up getting arrested and still having your laser taken away.

End of the day, arguing with a cop = bad idea.

I agree, they will try every trick in the book. However, at the end of the day they are the ones that are wrong. One must always resist injustice. I would rather be arrested and fight that crap in court than let someone violate my rights.
Remember, the only power they have is the power that we the people give them!

mfo · Jul 20, 2011

PersonGuyDude said:
I agree, they will try every trick in the book. However, at the end of the day they are the ones that are wrong. One must always resist injustice. I would rather be arrested and fight that crap in court than let someone violate my rights.
Remember, the only power they have is the power that we the people give them!

Is it really worth getting arrested over? Missing time from work and losing wages?

Here's a better solution; don't use your lasers outdoors in Ocean City, NJ.

Edit: And if you get arrested, you're not going to just get locked up over night and let out the next day. You're going to have to go to court and most likely pay fines. It's not worth it. Me, unless it's better to let by gones be by gones and get a new laser if that ever happened to me.

InfinitusEquitas · Jul 21, 2011

PersonGuyDude said:
I would rather be arrested and fight that crap in court than let someone violate my rights.
Remember, the only power they have is the power that we the people give them!

Admirable attitude, but have you actually ever been arrested for anything, or dealt with cops over more than a traffic ticket?

Takes a lot of time, effort and money to fight for rights, depending on the situation, for most people it's not worth it.

It's a shame, but it's reality.

JBTexas · Jul 21, 2011

In some cases "fighting for your rights" can backfire, if your intent is to make a statement.

If the populace-at-large has been spoon fed a lot of "Dangerous Death Rays from Laser People!" stories from the media, then the populace labels you a lunatic.

To get votes, politicians will do anything if it is "popular".

That's why this story is a bit troubling. What if Ocean City NJ manages to push the law thru and SUCCESSFULLY runs with it a while, and they fine / and / or / jail a lot of "dangerous laser hobbyists", and the local citizens (in large part) AGREE with it, thanks to propaganda and media manipulation?

So... here in Texas, maybe the governor needs votes, and needs a platform, and starts HIS campaign (with a lot of carefully planned media coverage), and then the next state, and so on...

I don't THINK that will happen, but it's POSSIBLE... and people doing stupid stuff with lasers isn't going to help.

mfo · Jul 21, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
Admirable attitude, but have you actually ever been arrested for anything, or dealt with cops over more than a traffic ticket?

Takes a lot of time, effort and money to fight for rights, depending on the situation, for most people it's not worth it.

It's a shame, but it's reality.

Actually, his attitude is kind of ignorant.

They passed a law, and you have to respect that. If you disagree with that law, lobby to try to get it changed or repealed. You can't just go out and break that law, then basically tell the cop to fuck off when they try to do their job when they bag you with an illegal device.

InfinitusEquitas · Jul 22, 2011

mfo said:
Actually, his attitude is kind of ignorant.

They passed a law, and you have to respect that. If you disagree with that law, lobby to try to get it changed or repealed. You can't just go out and break that law, then basically tell the cop to fuck off when they try to do their job when they bag you with an illegal device.

I took his statement to mean fighting the law in/through court... not by purposefully breaking it, and arguing with a cop.

mewrox99 · Jul 23, 2011

No wonder they were banned in OC. Look at this video
‪Ocean City - Green laser pointers at airplane‬‏ - YouTube (I tinyurl'd it so it won't say as seen on laser pointer forums)

The poor pilot in a small plane was getting heaps of people lasering him

Tech_Junkie · Jul 23, 2011

mewrox99 said:
No wonder they were banned in OC. Look at this video
‪Ocean City - Green laser pointers at airplane‬‏ - YouTube (I tinyurl'd it so it won't say as seen on laser pointer forums)

The poor pilot in a small plane was getting heaps of people lasering him

There is not a big enough Facepalm for this one.

...and its only the start. :yabbem:

A warning for those in ocean city nj

mfo

0

eexe

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

mfo

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

mfo

0

PersonGuyDude

0

mfo

0

PersonGuyDude

0

mfo

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

JBTexas

0

mfo

0

InfinitusEquitas

0

mewrox99

0

Tech_Junkie

0

Online statistics

Forum statistics

Share this page