OK, so I bought a 50mw green laser from budgetgadgets.com and I live in florida. I want to know if it's illegal. This is my first laser and I did not know anything about this. I just found out today and it is in the post office waiting for me to pick it up tomorrow. Can someone please help me? I'm very scared, I don't know if it is illegal . I will not point it at and motor vehicle or eyes. I just want to point it at the sky and have fun. Like pop balloons and burn through trash bags. Thats the reason i bought it. I really did not know it was illegal. SOMEONE HELPP!!! :cryyy:
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50mw Laser- ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA?
- Thread starter xplayca
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This is the site I bought it at. $22.25 New Keychain Green Beam Laser Pointer Pen Flashlight 30mW/50mW/100mW - BudgetGadgets.com
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Not knowing the law is NEVER an excuse for breaking the law. Further, how could we help you? We aren't law enforcement, we can't give you an "okay" because you say you won't point it at motor vehicles or eyes.
Yes - it is illegal to import lasers >5mW to the United States. However, you won't get fined/jailed/whatever for it. It will simply get seized. If you do shine it at something and hurt something or put something in danger, however, you CAN face serious penalties. So just go, pick it up, be safe (wear goggles!), and don't be stupid.
Yes - it is illegal to import lasers >5mW to the United States. However, you won't get fined/jailed/whatever for it. It will simply get seized. If you do shine it at something and hurt something or put something in danger, however, you CAN face serious penalties. So just go, pick it up, be safe (wear goggles!), and don't be stupid.
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If they realize that a laser is trying to pass through customs, the customs officers may seize it and not let it get to the recipient.
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If it's already at the post office for you to pick up, it made it through customs. So you'll get your laser.
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Maybe? But I can guarantee you that your laser will not be exactly 50mW. It may be a lot more, it may be a lot less. It's a luck of the draw thing when you buy from cheap sites like GadgetTown.
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Nope 
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For a 50mW green, that is very cheap, those sites, like DX, and many others, advertise high outputs, but chances are buying a 200mW will get you something like 80-100, and 20mW+ of IR. Which, for a cheap buy, is not bad. However, it's nothing like a professionally built laser from o-like, Dragon Lasers, LaserGlow, CNI, or many others with an IR filter, proven specs, etc. It won't be a "bad" laser, but it also won't be too great, an ok place to start though.
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Sigurthr
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If it isn't focusable, you probably won't be able to burn much with it, but it will be very bright and fun to point around.
Yes, when something gets siezed at customs it means they take it and keep it, and it doesn't get delivered. You don't get in trouble at all though.
Yes, when something gets siezed at customs it means they take it and keep it, and it doesn't get delivered. You don't get in trouble at all though.
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Some beach/boardwalk towns, and counties do have more much more strict laws about laser pointers, as these are often hot spots for trouble with idiots shining around cheap green pointers.
You should research you local laws city and county laws. I only mention this since florida has A LOT of beaches/boardwalks
It's not likely that there are any state laws, but there are federal laws, and very severe punishments...
Basically what it comes down to is NEVER point a laser at, around, or in front of, people, cars, planes, helicopters, animals, etc,. In most cases unless there is a specif law against lasers, like for example in cape may county in nj, you may be asked to stop using a laser, but if you are over 18, polite, and weren't doing anything bad... you're not likely to get in trouble.
You should research you local laws city and county laws. I only mention this since florida has A LOT of beaches/boardwalks
It's not likely that there are any state laws, but there are federal laws, and very severe punishments...
Basically what it comes down to is NEVER point a laser at, around, or in front of, people, cars, planes, helicopters, animals, etc,. In most cases unless there is a specif law against lasers, like for example in cape may county in nj, you may be asked to stop using a laser, but if you are over 18, polite, and weren't doing anything bad... you're not likely to get in trouble.
Sigurthr
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Aye, that is common for first time buyers, don't feel too bad. Save up and get something nice next time, that's the best thing to do. I recommend LaserGlow and Custom Builds from the veteran top-quality builders here on the forum, you can't go wrong with either.
