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FrozenGate by Avery

Did I do good?

tuskiomi

tuskiomi

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One of my friends started dealing these pointers at my highschool. I trusted him to sell them to (more) responsible kids. I was wrong.

So this asshole had his out and was flashing without the lens (beam) in the classroom. Now some background, i'm 18, 6'10, and 210lbs. I'm not buff, but i'm intimidating. I'm also the student aide. He is a medium, maybe 5'8, and i'm a foot taller than him, and bulkier. Back to the story, he decides to shine this thing in people's chests. At the moment, i was doing student aidey things, and i turn and i barely see the beam of this kid 10 feet away shining the laser in my face. My first reaction is to block the beam with my hand. It never hit my eyes, but he had the intention. After i get a sense of what is going on, i grab on to his laser, and snap it with one hand, where the batteries are fed. The kid was pissed, but not enough to start anything. He reported it, and i'm going to be stripped of student aide, suspended, and i may have a 200$ fine incoming. The kid was sent back to class. Will keep updated.

:eg::necromancy::eg:

So, the after tale. I was stripped of all student aide privileges and put on to a free hour because this was my first 'infraction'.:crackup: I didn't need the credit anyway, and I think I'm doing better now. For those who are wondering, THIS was the laser my friend was selling to others, at a cool 50$ a piece. But for laser pointers pro, I'm not surprise I broke it with one hand. I could see why douchecanoe was angry. No fine was inflicted, and nothing else came of it. I honestly was happy with the outcome, I didn't want to scale it too much, as attention to the laser enthusiast hobby would also bring in new controversy, laws and whatnot.
 
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I do think you were in the right when you decided to take the laser away from him, but breaking it may not have been the best course of action. I would have filmed him in the act, letting him know the dangers involved and if any student ended with any sort of eye damage, that kid could have gotten into huge trouble.

I do appreciate the help in trying to keep our hobby alive, for the more mature, responsible people :)

-Alex
 
get cheap legal council, shotgun sue naming the kid and the school. claim potential eye damage.
 
Ya did good kid....

I've had a couple of these style pointers. Their output is a roll of the dice. Not 200mW but well over 5mW, not including IR (these are not filtered). The best one I've had metered close to 70mW. A direct hit in the eye, depending on the output of the particular laser, could easily cause an injury that would last a lifetime. It doesn't sound to me that the dude shining this at your face would have learned a thing from a stern talking to from the administration or councilors. I'd appeal any suspension or reduction in rank (as it were) from TA.
 
What he did is classified as assault with intention to maim. What he did is actually illegal. While you may or may not press charges; it may behoove you to explain this and find the charge and code for it and explain this to school staff. At best you could be charged with destruction of private property not exceeding 50.00. This is a misdemeanor. If he does not press charges you are not bound to anything at all. The school cannot require a fine from you, there is no jurisdiction from that. You could opt to replace it. I do believe I would offer to replace it. I understand he is a complete moron. You have the leverage as what he did is assault.

Here is a case specific document. Read through this, print and provide to whoever thinks they can fine you for defending yourself from assault. Section 23.43
http://www.laserpointersafety.com/resources/1999-Springfield-Missouri-ordinance-4880.pdf

This seems very very close to your story:
http://www.laserpointersafety.com/n...iles/6805b4987d9421317360e02c6ca410be-251.php
And this:
http://www.laserpointersafety.com/n...iles/8c7c1bdac0f48f12061c5208b35dfa53-225.php
And This:
http://www.laserpointersafety.com/n...iles/80cab8719bc8d320c8c879a252417f08-197.php
 
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You showed great restraint and only damaged a cheap laser instead of a person. You will get out of this I truly believe, people are learning the dangers of laser regardless if they are into the hobby or not:)
 
Sounds like an appropriate response to someone purposefully doing something that can permanently damage your vision.

Good luck with your situation, I hope it turns out in your favor.
 
Hi,

That's crazy suspending you for protecting your self from maybe permanent blindness. These folk should see video of some of these crazy folks and Dumb Ways to Blind . `Get them loaded on your phone and show them the ramifications of such a stupid prank.And maybe your actions will be justified and possibly turn the table on the other removed that skated with no penalty. Basically you would be representing your self in this misjudgment
That's what i would do in this case try to get the charges expunged.

Rich:) Wish You Luck Buddy Off the record you should have stuck the laser were the sun don't shine..
 
You may have done the morally right thing, but it doubt you did from a legal perspective.

Arguing that you were in immediate danger from eye damage does not fly here, the only thing you had to do to protect yourself was literally look away. Provided no damage was done (and continued to be done) before you took action renders your actions not necessary for self preservation.

What you legally did is rob a person of his possessions, which is despite the small value still a serious crime. It is comparable to violently robbing a $20 note from a person. Destorying it afterwards doesn't make that much of a difference though, you already took unrightful posession of his property by force.

Then again, try not to escalate these things to the maximum extent of the law if there is no need. If he presses chargers you'd essentially be conviced of mugging the guy, and self defense will probably no fly as you were in no danger that you can really prove (especially since the laser was destroyed so its danger level cannot be asserted anymore).

While i think you are morally correct, your best option would be to reimburse that guy for the price of the laser you took off him, and ask not to press charges, and reach some agreement. If you do not and he presses charges you are in for a felonly conviction.
 
Thanks all for the support and info.
@above: would good someritan laws protect me since he was doing it to other people before me?
 
Benm said:
You may have done the morally right thing, but it doubt you did from a legal perspective.

Arguing that you were in immediate danger from eye damage does not fly here, the only thing you had to do to protect yourself was literally look away. Provided no damage was done (and continued to be done) before you took action renders your actions not necessary for self preservation. Not true at all! You can't 'look away' fast enough to prevent permanent eye injury from a laser of any significant power.

What you legally did is rob a person of his possessions, which is despite the small value still a serious crime. It is comparable to violently robbing a $20 note from a person. Destorying it afterwards doesn't make that much of a difference though, you already took unrightful posession of his property by force.

Then again, try not to escalate these things to the maximum extent of the law if there is no need. If he presses chargers you'd essentially be conviced of mugging the guy, and self defense will probably no fly as you were in no danger that you can really prove (especially since the laser was destroyed so its danger level cannot be asserted anymore). Also not true. It was not destroyed. The pointer was broken in half so it will no longer hold batteries. This could easily be 'fixed' with duct tape to meter the laser.

While i think you are morally correct, your best option would be to reimburse that guy for the price of the laser you took off him, and ask not to press charges, and reach some agreement. If you do not and he presses charges you are in for a felonly conviction.
Click to expand...
Not a felony considering the value of the pointer and considering no injuries were inflicted on the former owner. Assault with intent to maim IS a felony. Our boy here is on solid ground.
 
I would turn the tables and say it is equal to or even worse to him spraying pepper spay in your face because he could have caused permanent harm to your eyesight. Therefore you tried to disarm him of the item as he was aiming it at others and yourself and it was broken during the action of disarming him.
If they still don't back down then ask them what if it was a sharpened screwdriver or a knife?
Goggle information about the damage a laser can do to your eyesight and present it to the school. Arm yourself with facts that this moron was aiming a laser at your face and do not back down.
If they say you could have just turned your head then ask them what would they do if someone was approaching them with a knife, turn their head?
Also he was doing it to multiple people so he had to be stopped.
Stand up for yourself!! YOU were the victim, not him.
 
tuskiomi said:
Thanks all for the support and info.
@above: would good someritan laws protect me since he was doing it to other people before me?
Click to expand...

He was the aggressor not you so make that a strong point in your defense. Perhaps someone in your state on here can help you?

Anyone else from MN?
 
Would taking it to the media help as well? It would probably just hurt our hobby even more. But it would help his case, especially with all the morons hitting airplanes recently, they would turn it into a crime. He was probably one of them lasing planes if he is dumb enough to point it at yours or anyones face!
 
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