Looks like the FDA is finally fed up with handheld lasers...

hwang21 · Sep 2, 2013

But it's just not the right kind of control. Yes control is good, but this is a step in the wrong direction... it's like saying "oh saws can be dangerous so let's ban it from the country" same thing with gas, electricity, fans, hammers, etc etc etc?

Obviously not... that's why we have licenses, tests, etc. Driver's license, hunting license, fishing license, Laser Safety Officer test. How is this not obvious?

Not to mention... fees associated with testing is yet another way for the government to make money

Sure there are people who are complete idiots, not just when wielding lasers. But there are also extremely responsible and smart people. And this "attempt at control", for sake of conversation, isn't really just aimed at teenagers, it's everyone...

IMO this is concerning... a step in the wrong direction at least. Just my two cents

ultimatekaiser · Sep 2, 2013

hwang21 said:
But it's just not the right kind of control. Yes control is good, but this is a step in the wrong direction... it's like saying "oh saws can be dangerous so let's ban it from the country" same thing with gas, electricity, fans, hammers, etc etc etc?

Obviously not... that's why we have licenses, tests, etc. Driver's license, hunting license, fishing license, Laser Safety Officer test. How is this not obvious?

Not to mention... fees associated with testing is yet another way for the government to make money

Sure there are people who are complete idiots, not just when wielding lasers. But there are also extremely responsible and smart people. And this "attempt at control", for sake of conversation, isn't really just aimed at teenagers, it's everyone...

IMO this is concerning... a step in the wrong direction at least. Just my two cents

Don't get me wrong, I agree in full. Like with a car or firearm, there's no reason someone shouldn't be able to get them, as long as they know how to handle them properly. It's a simple lack of the one thing a lot of people no longer have...responsibility. Plain and simple.

hwang21 · Sep 2, 2013

Well there's also the fact that many of these arrests are on people who have no concept of the power of a laser... it's not just responsibility (although I agree that is a major part)

Encap · Sep 2, 2013

Has there been any change in the FDA rules and regulations in lst 3 month to 6 months? Am not aware that anything has changed.

Any changes realated specifically to "lasers that exceed class IIa/IIIR" and "parts that may be assembled to become such a laser"?

cantthinkofone · Sep 2, 2013

I'm involved in reptiles and for years the government has squeezed the life out of a once prominent hobby. As with reptiles the government wants to wrap us all in bubble wrap, hand out safety helmets and put us in sponge rooms. They make me mad. Now if you excuse me I'm going to go order a 20 dollar 150 mw blue laser from Asia while I still can.

LtKernelPanic · Sep 2, 2013

Glad I got my high powered 589 when I did with the way things are looking. :cryyy:

Livinloud said:
I dont think it was a bad idea but maybe aircraft companies should look into coating the windshields with anti-laser coating of some kinda instead of glasses. kinda like tinting windows on cars to protect against the sun :thinking:

Livinloud said:
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, thats what they said about the light bulb, internet, wireless phones, cars.........get the point? Nothing is impossible and this is in fact so easy! Its taking the same coating found in laser glasses and adding a small layer to aircraft windshield :thinking: thats not hard

While that seems like a no brainer the problem is if you apply coatings that block green and blue wavelengths pilots could have a hard time telling (or possibly won't be able to at all in bad weather) the color of various lights on the airfield which is far more dangerous than any idiot pointing a laser from the ground.

cantthinkofone · Sep 2, 2013

just placed my final overseas laser order. just for funzies i ordered a 405nm "1000mw" laser for $19.95 if it comes broken or anything happens at least i get a free ultra fire and charger.

ultimatekaiser · Sep 2, 2013

You rebel. :na:

cantthinkofone · Sep 2, 2013

hey gotta get your fix whether thats walking up to strangers begging them for dvd burners, or saying screw the FDA and ordering a cheapie laser. i chose the second as the first is a junkies way of doing it

Bionic-Badger · Sep 2, 2013

Livinloud said:
I dont think it was a bad idea but maybe aircraft companies should look into coating the windshields with anti-laser coating of some kinda instead of glasses. kinda like tinting windows on cars to protect against the sun :thinking:

That's like saying that people should use bullet-proof windshields so that people shooting at cars can't hit the occupants. The problem is not the vehicle or its glass, but the people shooting at vehicles. Those people need to be stopped.

Also, most of these laser incidents are at night when the pilots need all the night-adapted vision they can retain. It often takes 20 minutes or more for eyes to become night adapted. A bright laser dazzle event will screw up the pilot's vision for a long time, even at far-reduced filtering. As pointed out above, tinting the windows would reduce visibility and also not cover all wavelengths. Even with filtering, the laser would still probably cause flash-blindness; for example, with OD6+ on those ARG filters, a green laser still has a bright dot.

For airliners, these laser events usually only occur when the airliner is taking off or landing because it is the only time those windows are sufficiently low enough that a laser can hit the cockpit. Those are critical times during flight, and we've already seen what a bad landing can do to an aircraft and its passengers (e.g. the Asiatic crash in San Francisco).

Still, these incidents usually involve slow-moving helicopters, not airliners. These helicopter pilots also need good night vision as they're usually looking around below them as they move and need to be able to see the surface.

Quite frankly, given the potential severity of laser-aircraft incidents, I think it should be possible for people to be brought up on terrorism charges, especially if they blind pilots of airliners. What I don't want happening is one big incident causing the FDA to completely ban lasers, and forcing manufacturers to pot all their diodes lest people get to them. The perpetrators should be punished severely, but I don't want the hobby itself to be hurt. I'd even be fine with a laser ownership permit, like owning a gun, but I don't want an outright ban because of some idiots.

Encap · Sep 2, 2013

Looks like rules for "kits" are the same as they have been since 1976, unless i have missed something.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/UCM095362.pdf

Found some good information about selling in USA here: http://www.laserpointersafety.com/rules-general/rules/rules.html

and good info on US ownerhip and use here: http://www.laserpointersafety.com/rules-general/rules-US-consumers/rules-US-consumers.html

ultimatekaiser · Sep 2, 2013

Bionic-Badger said:
That's like saying that people should use bullet-proof windshields so that people shooting at cars can't hit the occupants. The problem is not the vehicle or its glass, but the people shooting at vehicles. Those people need to be stopped.

Also, most of these laser incidents are at night when the pilots need all the night-adapted vision they can retain. It often takes 20 minutes or more for eyes to become night adapted. A bright laser dazzle event will screw up the pilot's vision for a long time, even at far-reduced filtering. As pointed out above, tinting the windows would reduce visibility and also not cover all wavelengths. Even with filtering, the laser would still probably cause flash-blindness; for example, with OD6+ on those ARG filters, a green laser still has a bright dot.

For airliners, these laser events usually only occur when the airliner is taking off or landing because it is the only time those windows are sufficiently low enough that a laser can hit the cockpit. Those are critical times during flight, and we've already seen what a bad landing can do to an aircraft and its passengers (e.g. the Asiatic crash in San Francisco).

Still, these incidents usually involve slow-moving helicopters, not airliners. These helicopter pilots also need good night vision as they're usually looking around below them as they move and need to be able to see the surface.

Quite frankly, given the potential severity of laser-aircraft incidents, I think it should be possible for people to be brought up on terrorism charges, especially if they blind pilots of airliners. What I don't want happening is one big incident causing the FDA to completely ban lasers, and forcing manufacturers to pot all their diodes lest people get to them. The perpetrators should be punished severely, but I don't want the hobby itself to be hurt. I'd even be fine with a laser ownership permit, like owning a gun, but I don't want an outright ban because of some idiots.

These are pretty much my thoughts exactly.

Shakenawake · Sep 2, 2013

most people have seen red and green lasers. attacks by green lasers draw enough attention, but this recent one at DIA was a blue, maybe 1W or more. this draws more attention to the availability of these "powerful lasers", and gives them one more bullet.

B-B always good to read your posts, I suppose I agree

Flaminpyro · Sep 2, 2013

I would like to see one news article that says customs have cracked down and is confiscating hand held lasers and laser parts coming in or going out of the country, sounds like a bunch of whooie to me, what did I miss something :thinking:

steve001 · Sep 2, 2013

ultimatekaiser said:
I've been searching around, and it seems that the FDA has finally had enough of wanton teens ordering "lasers that exceed class IIa/IIIR" and "parts that may be assembled to become such a laser".

Customs and border protection have locked down and been confiscating packages left and right. It seems there's even been an arrest recently in Denver for someone aiming a blue laser out his window at people and aircraft.

US: Denver police "swarm" a home after blue laser is aimed at airplane | Aviation incidents | LaserPointerSafety.com

Police swarm Denver neighborhood after pilot reports laser light pointed at plane | KDVR.com

Laserglow has also refused shipping to the USA for handhelds recently it seems, as well as Amazon cracking down on product registration.

US: Amazon.com tightens rules for laser pointer sales | Easy availability | LaserPointerSafety.com

I'm sorry in advance for the following:
SO MUCH HATE for RETARDS!!!!

What has changed? Selling laser pointers over 5mw has been against the law for a long time. Amazon is only following the law. It's also illegal to import, in this case Amazon is the importer functioning lasers over 5mw without FDA approved safety requirements. Again nothing has changed.
As for Laserglow, point specifically to where they won't ship to the US. I think you are a bit more worried than you need to be.

hwang21 · Sep 2, 2013

Read the entire thread... it's been quoted right here on this thread

Looks like the FDA is finally fed up with handheld lasers...

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