Finally police are arresting laser terrorists.

[ATFS_Crash]

Md. Man Arrested for Shining Laser at News Helicopter

Mike McPhate
Washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 25, 2009; 5:33 PM

A Silver Spring man who shined a laser pointer at a news helicopter was arrested this morning, Montgomery County Police said.

Officers responded to the home of Gary Wort, 57, at about 6:42 a.m. They found him holding the laser that he shined at the passing helicopter because it annoyed him, police said; he then shined it in an officer's face.

Wort was arrested and charged with one count of disorderly conduct, three counts of reckless endangerment, and two counts of prohibited use of a laser pointer.

He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Source
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022503006.html

Man arrested for pointing laser at military helicopter

February 26, 2009

BLUFFDALE, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A Bluffdale man is facing federal charges after allegedly shining a laser beam at a National Guard helicopter.

It happened last week when the Apache helicopter was returning from a training mission.

According to pilots, the laser lit up the window on the aircraft not once, but twice.

The men knew it was a laser, and circled back to pinpoint the location.

That’s when police moved in and made the arrest.

The man now faces up to five years in prison

Source
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top...NPGvB6Bzg.cspx


I think so far they seem to be treated overly lightly. I think shining a laser intentionally at an aircraft in this manner is not an act of a legitimate “vigilante” or a form of protest (or a legitimate joke/prank); I think it is terrorism (whether or not there has been no damages or losses yet).

[mawheatley]

Shouldn't the past tense of shine be "shone?" (Not "shined.")

But yes, you're absolutely right - they should lock the b*****d up and throw away the key. Absolutely nothing good can come of pointing a laser at an aircraft.

[Theoddkiwi]

A month or so ago at a Cricket game between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane. A fielder was lining up to take a catch when some one in the crowd shone a laser into his eyes.

He dropped the catch and almost was a pivital dropped catch in the game.

You could clearly see the a green light shining on the players face. There was an investigation but no one was caught. The next game in Melbourne came with warnings from the Police that anyone found with a laser at the game would be prosecuted.

Who the hell though it would be a good idea to sell these things to the public?

One thing to note as stupid as it is to shine a laser at and airliner on approach one would think it even dumber to shine it at a helicopter in which the pilot can simply spin around fly back to find where the laser came from. Oh yes very smart

[ROM]

Originally Posted by mawheatley

Shouldn't the past tense of shine be "shone?" (Not "shined.")

shine (shīn) Pronunciation Key
v. shone (shōn) or shined, shin·ing, shines

v. intr.
To emit light.
To reflect light; glint or glisten.
To distinguish oneself in an activity or a field; excel.
To be immediately apparent: Delight shone in her eyes.
v. tr.
To aim or cast the beam or glow of (a light).
past tense and past participle shined To make glossy or bright by polishing.

Both forms are accepted.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shine

[3WE]

Yeah...the death toll from laser-induced crashes up to what...about 10,000 now???

It's about time they start arresting those folks instead of the poor little birdies.

[Deadstick]

Next up! Laser guided engine ingesting birdies! Film at 11:00!

[Simpleboy]

The things have plenty of legitimate uses, hence why they are sold to the public, My lecturers use them all the time to highlight things and bring your attention to them and such. Honestly, you guys are over reacting a touch, honestly, just leave them in a cell for a while and give them a 'your lucky this time but next time' talk. Whats 5 years in jail going to teach someone? Hows it terrorism? If we shine alight into someone driving a cars eye are we going to be sent to jail? What about forgetting to dim your lights when driving on a road at night and there's something coming on the other side of the road? We sending people to jail for that?

[ATFS_Crash]

Calif. Man Gets Prison for Aiming Laser at Planes
Tuesday, November 03, 2009


LOS ANGELES — A Southern California man who aimed a laser beam at two airliners as they approached an airport has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for disrupting the flights.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles says Dana Christian Welch of Orange, who was sentenced Monday, was the first person in the U.S. to be convicted at trial of interfering with pilots by aiming lasers at their planes.

Authorities say the 37-year-old aimed a handheld laser at two Boeing jets as the passenger planes were about to land at John Wayne Airport on the night of May 21, 2008.

The laser beam struck one pilot in the eye, causing "flash blindness," and interfered with pilots' ability to land the other plane.

Source
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews

While I’m glad to see this individual convicted; I think the sentence is regretfully light. I would consider the crime to be a form of terrorism and should be treated as so.

[SYDCBRWOD]

Originally Posted by ATFS_Crash

Source
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews

While I’m glad to see this individual convicted; I think the sentence is regretfully light. I would consider the crime to be a form of terrorism and should be treated as so.

Can we send our offenders your way for sentencing? IIRC the last bloke who targeted airliners and believe it or not the police helicopter (real rockt scientist this bloke) received a fine and a slap on the wrist. At least you guys throw these guys in prison. Of course the NSW Government (state government) immediately penalised the other 5 million people by removing lasers from sale...

[Theoddkiwi]

Originally Posted by Simpleboy

The things have plenty of legitimate uses, hence why they are sold to the public, My lecturers use them all the time to highlight things and bring your attention to them and such. Honestly, you guys are over reacting a touch, honestly, just leave them in a cell for a while and give them a 'your lucky this time but next time' talk. Whats 5 years in jail going to teach someone? Hows it terrorism? If we shine alight into someone driving a cars eye are we going to be sent to jail? What about forgetting to dim your lights when driving on a road at night and there's something coming on the other side of the road? We sending people to jail for that?

Say that to the families of the dead after one leads to a crash.

How about dropping rocks onto cars on the freeway? Is that any different. Not in my books intentionally trying to interfere with someone else doing a critical and complex task that could lead to catastrophic consequences is committing a crime.

For getting to dim your lights is negligence and should result in a warning and perhaps a ticket.

Intensionally driving down the road with high beams on with the intent to distract and disorientate other drivers is a criminal act.

What about firing a small calibre rifle at aircraft is that ok? i mean its not like it will make the plane crash. I mean sure if i used a Rocket Launcher sure that would be silly. But a small gun thats got to be ok