About time - Aussie gets Gaol for lasering Pol-Air

Yep silly aussie gets gaol time (4 years) for shooting at the local law enforcement chopper. Serves him right.



Now mabye the ning nongs will sit up and listen when they say "yep, fine and gaol sentence if you get busted pointing them at aircraft"

These stupid acts have spoiled the fun for the rest of us who use lasers (either pointers or otherwise) responsibly.

Wow never heard of anyone actually doing time for shining lasers at a aircraft, especially lots of time like this. Maybe now idiots will finally learn. Hopefully they stop being stupid after seeing the consequences.

Haloid, I could not agree more mate - they're banned over here due to these idiots, about time someone did some time for spoiling it for those of us who like lasers :/

While I'm all for punishing this kid, I think four years is way too harsh.

The judge's reasoning "There could have been a disaster in a densely populated urban area." is absolutely ridiculous.

Theoretical "could have been" scenarios should not be a basis for punishment.

The punishment should fit the crime itself, not hypothetical scenarios that could arise as a result of the crime. At the most, the punishment should fit the intent of the crime and intended results.

A month in jail would have gotten the point across just as well without sticking another stupid kid in prison for four years. I mean this was no attempt at terrorism, it was just a kid being a kid and doing stupid shit. It should be treated as such.

I know it seems counter intuitive but sticking people in a prison, doesn't tend to make them better, quite the opposite in fact.

InfinitusEquitas said:

While I'm all for punishing this kid, I think four years is way too harsh.

The judge's reasoning "There could have been a disaster in a densely populated urban area." is absolutely ridiculous.

Theoretical "could have been" scenarios should not be a basis for punishment.

The punishment should fit the crime itself, not hypothetical scenarios that could arise as a result of the crime. At the most, the punishment should fit the intent of the crime and intended results.

A month in jail would have gotten the point across just as well without sticking another stupid kid in prison for four years. I mean this was no attempt at terrorism, it was just a kid being a kid and doing stupid shit. It should be treated as such.

I know it seems counter intuitive but sticking people in a prison, doesn't tend to make them better, quite the opposite in fact.

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I agree with you a hundred percent! At least this will make someone think twice before doing this. But four years for that... Their are a lot of serious crimes that get less than 4 years. And what "could of happened" doesn't make sense to use in court.

Could have happened? Since when can you use "coulds" in court? Stick to actual facts please. 4 years of jail? Someone's been smoking something.

Yes the punishment is a tad harsh, but I think the kid will get parole after a few months provided he behaves.

I thinking the judge decided to use him as an example to others thinking of lasing aircraft.

vk2fro said:

I thinking the judge decided to use him as an example to others thinking of lasing aircraft.

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Exactly.

Hopefully this will make idiots think twice about lasing aircraft then.

InfinitusEquitas said:

Exactly.

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vk2fro said:

I thinking the judge decided to use him as an example to others thinking of lasing aircraft.

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ARGLaser said:

Hopefully this will make idiots think twice about lasing aircraft then.

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Not likely. Unfortunately the perpetrator in this case is EXACTLY the kind of person who would not have thought to research the subject.

If he did I doubt he would have shined the laser at a helicopter in the first place.

As with other popular law enforcement approaches, what this will do is scare law abiding people who otherwise might have enjoyed the hobby.

There is no way to legislate common sense unfortunately.

vk2fro said:

Yep silly aussie gets gaol time (4 years) for shooting at the local law enforcement chopper. Serves him right.



Now mabye the ning nongs will sit up and listen when they say "yep, fine and gaol sentence if you get busted pointing them at aircraft"

These stupid acts have spoiled the fun for the rest of us who use lasers (either pointers or otherwise) responsibly.

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Yeah.... He's sorry.....
He's sorry he got caught....

Good for him.................. NEXT !!!


Jerry

He deserves it ! But i think 4 years is a little too much.
This will stop other idiots !

Jim

vk2fro said:

Yes the punishment is a tad harsh, but I think the kid will get parole after a few months provided he behaves.

I thinking the judge decided to use him as an example to others thinking of lasing aircraft.

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Think I heard it say no parole in not less than 18 months, ouch.

He was for sure made an example of, sucks for him. But arguing "could have been" in court? He had a very poor attorney.

Plus there is NO WAY< NOOOO WAAY to bring down a plane or chopper with a laser.
There is a reason we have never heard of such a thing, as it is just unrealistic.
No more light makes it in a cockpit from such distances and angles thru aircraft glass than a cheapo LED flashlight would give off if lit right in the cockpit.
You can clearly see the chopper never veared, dove, or otherwise changed its direction during said laser attack, other than to follow the subjects, LOL'

If I recall, this is the story that said the chopper was forced to land, when the story first broke, yet it followed the subjects first with no problems, LOL.

No, don't do it, as it is dangerous as a distraction, but no more than any flash of lightining around. LOL.

His attorney sucked, LOL.

And to those 2 Airline guys who got millions from a settlement, saying that the laser attack they survived while flying gave them instant permanent eye damage, and won the suite, I call just as stupid as the idiots who create this mess, and deserving more than 4 years in jail...

I ask which was a worse crime???
The kid who did no real harm or damage, or the jerks cashing in millions and laughing all the time knowing they had eye issues all along and found a way to capitalize from it by lying.

Just my 7 cents.

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Im pretty sure a laser would be more dangerous than any other lighting. If it hits them directly in the eye it could damage their vision.

Haloid95 said:

Im pretty sure a laser would be more dangerous than any other lighting. If it hits them directly in the eye it could damage their vision.

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In theory that's true, however consider what's happening when the helicopter is actually hit.

1. The beam is already traveling at least a few hundred feet, which means due to divergence it is no longer focused.

2. The beam hits an angled, at least somewhat reflective surface in the form of a windshield.

3. Typically all these incidents involve shitty pens that don't have a good initial beam diameter or divergence.

That helicopter was inconvenienced less than motorists are on a daily basis from other people driving with their high beams on.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you watch videos of that particular situation, it seems as if at most the pilot is annoyed, and never in any danger.

This kids attorney should be fired for incompetence, and not challenging the law it self.

The thing is, a laser would have diverged severely before even getting near the chopper/plane. Those cheapo greenies would probably have a 5 meter wide beam by the time they reach and type of aircraft

Agh, damn you and your keyboard infinitus.