More idiots with lasers.

Pilots want ban on laser guns | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

To my surprise it seems that pointing a laser at an aircraft is not a crime in the Netherlands.
It's only punishable by law if an accident happens.
So now these pilots are aksing to make it a crime (just like in all other countries) which is a reasonable request.

But our government has the bad reputation to forbid everything they don't understand.
So IF they decide to act on this request there is a chance they make lasers illegal altogether.(just like Australia) instead of just making it illegal to point at aircraft.
In the USA the FDA compliant lasers are perfectly legal but my guess is that safety features don't make any difference.


But there is still one bright side to all this.
Purchasing the laser I want for almost 2 years(RPL-300) has become the highest priority and since there might be a chance that I'm not able to order it anymore if they decide to make them illegal, my wife has agreed to order it next month.

Hope that you get your RPL before they do anything, and that nothing happens regarding laser laws that wouls prevent you from getting anymore.

Why not write your local member of government and voice your concerns. They probably know very little about the vast majority of responsible laser owners.

Dave

This is a problem in Norway too.. Right now, all class 3B lasers are perfectly legal, but because of constant cases of kids pointing at aircrafts, the government is probably banning them soon.

Kids suck, so do stupid adults.

They got a 33/38 year old last week in Canada.

Ah well, it happens even here in holland. There is no explicit mention of shining lasers at aircraft in dutch law, but purposly injuring or killing people, or attempting to do so, is still punishable.

The legal question would have to be tested in court: does shining a laser pointer at a plane pose any real risk of injury or death to crew and passengers? The DA could take the case to court, but would stand a serious chance of losing the case if the suspect is able to prove there wasnt any danger.

This situation is not specific to airplanes or lasers either: if someone were to shine a driver on the highway in the eyes with a bright flashlight, temporarely blinding him, it could be seen as (attempted) assault, manslaughter or even murder.

I see no need for specific legislation for lasers, airplanes or the combination of both - general legislation should suffice if anyone is seriously endangered.