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I've been told that it's a felony in the USA to have a Class IV laser product in a public place (even if it's not being used). Does anyone know about this?
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FrozenGate by Avery
Actual Laser Laws by Country
- Thread starter Grix
- Start date
New US FEDERAL RULE IN CONGRESS:
Working its way through congress, probably going to pass in both houses:
Steve
See:
Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
H.R.5810 -- Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010 (Engrossed in House [Passed House] - EH)
HR 5810 EH
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5810
AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.
(a) Offense- Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft
`(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
`(b) As used in this section, the term `laser pointer' means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, place, item, or object.
`(c) This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by--
`(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations;
`(2) members or elements of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing or training; or
`(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal.
`(d) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, may provide by regulation, after public notice and comment, such additional exceptions to this section, as may be necessary and appropriate. The Attorney General shall provide written notification of any proposed regulations under this section to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House, and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in the Senate not less than 90 days before such regulations become final.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 39 the following new item:
`39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.'.
SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH PAYGO.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled `Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2010.
Attest:
Clerk.
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5810
AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.
Working its way through congress, probably going to pass in both houses:
Steve
See:
Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
H.R.5810 -- Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010 (Engrossed in House [Passed House] - EH)
HR 5810 EH
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5810
AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2010'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.
(a) Offense- Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft
`(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
`(b) As used in this section, the term `laser pointer' means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, place, item, or object.
`(c) This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by--
`(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations;
`(2) members or elements of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing or training; or
`(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal.
`(d) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, may provide by regulation, after public notice and comment, such additional exceptions to this section, as may be necessary and appropriate. The Attorney General shall provide written notification of any proposed regulations under this section to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House, and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in the Senate not less than 90 days before such regulations become final.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 39 the following new item:
`39A. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.'.
SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH PAYGO.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled `Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2010.
Attest:
Clerk.
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5810
AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.
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this all seems perfectly reasonable.
more reasonable than a great deal of Paintball regulations through out North America.
more reasonable than a great deal of Paintball regulations through out North America.
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Awesome sauce.
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Sounds great to me! As much as there are very few uses for portable lasers over a certain power, there is even less need for people to point lasers at planes. What possible good does it do?
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It is pretty useless for an individual to arbitrarily point a laser at a plane or helicopter while it's in flight... blinding a pilot with a laser serves no purpose at all. Several years ago the casinos in Tunica, Mississippi had extremely powerful lasers shooting out across the sky. These things could be seen for miles but I guess they didn't realize that the Memphis International Airport wasn't too far from that area... the lasers were gone after a few weeks. They were impressive though... I can remember driving down hwy 61 and seeing bright green beams of light shooting over the highway and continuing east as far as I could see.
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Well, while there is the federal laws, additional laser laws vary state to state and even county to county. Best to check your local laws 
If they would have hired the legally required spotter(s) at minimum wage, and did some planning, they would still have lasers. You go cheap, you face the consequences.
Steve
Benm
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I suppose its hard to get a clear picture on legal status for european countries. There is no legislation banning owning or using a laser or other lightsource of any power level or wavelength in general (at least not above radio wave frequecies and below ionizing radiation).
Looking at the Dutch situation, there is no limitation on what lasers you can own and operate at all - if you want to shoot holes in your own walls using a kilowatt CO2 laser, that is your own business.
The legal difficulty arises when you expose third parties to your laser beams, resulting in direct injury, or posing a danger to traffic on road, water or in the air.
Little jurisdiction has been formed so far. There have been a few cases of people shining lasers at aircraft, one of which was taken seriously to some degree: This person purposly attempt to disrupt AWACS aircraft because their noise was a nuisance to him. It resulted in no criminal conviction because the homebrew laser unit was lost or destroyed somewhere in the process, and no proof could be produced that an actual risk existed to the aircraft.
All in all, pointing your lasers around doesnt seem to be much of a legal issue here, unless it causes real problems. If you blind a driver resulting in an accident or something similar, you would be held accountable for civil damages and possibly face criminal charges - though the latter would require proof of intent or at least gross neglect.
As for selling lasers: There are agencies similar to the FDA that protect consumer safety, and selling lasers over class 2 may get you into trouble with those. This only applies if you sell them as presentation pointers or toys though. As long as you make it clear a laser unit is not intented for such application, there is no problem. One should include a warning the laser is not to be pointed any any human or animal, nor at property that you do not want damaged or destroyed, but beyond that individual responsibility is valued highly in most of europe.
Looking at the Dutch situation, there is no limitation on what lasers you can own and operate at all - if you want to shoot holes in your own walls using a kilowatt CO2 laser, that is your own business.
The legal difficulty arises when you expose third parties to your laser beams, resulting in direct injury, or posing a danger to traffic on road, water or in the air.
Little jurisdiction has been formed so far. There have been a few cases of people shining lasers at aircraft, one of which was taken seriously to some degree: This person purposly attempt to disrupt AWACS aircraft because their noise was a nuisance to him. It resulted in no criminal conviction because the homebrew laser unit was lost or destroyed somewhere in the process, and no proof could be produced that an actual risk existed to the aircraft.
All in all, pointing your lasers around doesnt seem to be much of a legal issue here, unless it causes real problems. If you blind a driver resulting in an accident or something similar, you would be held accountable for civil damages and possibly face criminal charges - though the latter would require proof of intent or at least gross neglect.
As for selling lasers: There are agencies similar to the FDA that protect consumer safety, and selling lasers over class 2 may get you into trouble with those. This only applies if you sell them as presentation pointers or toys though. As long as you make it clear a laser unit is not intented for such application, there is no problem. One should include a warning the laser is not to be pointed any any human or animal, nor at property that you do not want damaged or destroyed, but beyond that individual responsibility is valued highly in most of europe.
Last edited:
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I'm confused with the US laws. You can't own a laser, but if you do they need a lock?
jedirock
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They need to be FDA approved. For pointers, that means a maximum of 5mW. Anything portable and more powerful cannot be marketed as a pointer, but as a handheld laser instead, and must have certain safety features (can't say off the top of my head which ones those would be).
At least, that's what I understand from my reading here. I don't actually live in the US though.
They need to be FDA approved. For pointers, that means a maximum of 5mW. Anything portable and more powerful cannot be marketed as a pointer, but as a handheld laser instead, and must have certain safety features (can't say off the top of my head which ones those would be).
At least, that's what I understand from my reading here. I don't actually live in the US though.
Above 5 mW
Proper class IIIB or Class IV warning labels, a keyswitch, emission indicator, possibly a shutter, and a remote interlock connector, emission arperture warning sticker
In rare cases a 5 second or 30 second time delay.
The label wording changes a bit depending on power.
Above 5 mW your going to find a required manual in the package, too.
Steve
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Why dosnt the U.S. just make some sort of liscense system? Nothing too fancy, just a written test about proper handiling and saftey. And of course with that would come a small tax stamp, hopefully somewhere in the 20 - 50 buck range. Nothing too expensive to a responsible laser operator. A 13 year old kid that wants to shine high powered lasers at a police chopper is not going to take the time and money to get a liscense just for that. And if their parents do it for them, there will be accountability. No more playing dumb or just plain ignorance. Basically make it a permit to purchase kind of thing. You pay the tax stamp, take the test, and get some sort of FDA authorised card with an id number on it that a reputable laser dealer could cross reference with and then make a sale. I dont think that this would really be out of the question, and it would go along ways to weed out the immature, irresponsible users that dont understand the power and danger of these things. People might also take them more seriousally than "just a laser pointer" if you have to get a permit to operate, own, and purchase. Just my .02 Who knows, maybe then some U.S. based companies could get a start and create some jobs.....
Oh.... and get rid of the FDA approved stuff. A 13 year old can have a laser equipped with a key, saftey dongle, emission light, lens sutter, and delay. That still dosent stop him for pointing it at people or aircraft.
Oh.... and get rid of the FDA approved stuff. A 13 year old can have a laser equipped with a key, saftey dongle, emission light, lens sutter, and delay. That still dosent stop him for pointing it at people or aircraft.