Renewed Laser Pointer License $200!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merlin66 (Ken) · #1 21-09-2018, 03:33 PM

Just renewed the Permit to carry and use a Laser Pointer.....
$200 with fees!
Ok, maybe for three years but still a significant hit to wallet.

multiweb (Marc) · #2 21-09-2018, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Just renewed the Permit to carry and use a Laser Pointer.....
$200 with fees!
Ok, maybe for three years but still a significant hit to wallet.

Nany state...

Does this include collimation lasers?

multiweb (Marc) · #3 21-09-2018, 03:56 PM

This NSW police page says you're exempt from a permit if you are an amateur astronomer and are a member of any of these clubs.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #4 21-09-2018, 03:59 PM

In Victoria, lasers >1mW must be licensed.

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #5 21-09-2018, 09:30 PM

Don't you have to secure these in the same manner as a firearm?

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #6 22-09-2018, 12:09 AM

I gave up on them a few years back. I have a pen torch that does just as good a job for pointing objects during outreach and isn't 'cooler' than the targets themselves.

I have listened to many of my workmates who have come back off holiday having done a sky tour and the only thing they recall is the laser

"What did they show you?"
"the laser was AWESOME!!!!"
"Did you see a planet?"
"It was green and went forever...."

etc

Merlin66 (Ken) · #7 22-09-2018, 08:30 AM

Hans,
Yes, here in Vic it's a "Prohibited Weapon"

My laser(s) are used in spectroscopy and used for the design and construction of spectroscopes and spectroheliographs.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #8 22-09-2018, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

My laser(s) are used in spectroscopy and used for the design and construction of spectroscopes and spectroheliographs.

Now that's a real reason to use one

Kunama · #9 23-09-2018, 07:37 PM

The Victorian law only relates to handheld, battery powered laser pointer. A pointer permanently attached to a telescope does not fall under the definition, nor do lasers used on tripods for construction etc...

"A hand-held battery-operated article commonly known as a "laser pointer" designed or adapted to emit a laser beam with an accessible emission limit of greater than 1 mW."

So if it is mounted in a permanent way i.e., not hand held, such as in Ken's testing equipment it would not fall under the provision of that legislation.

billdan (Bill) · #10 23-09-2018, 07:45 PM

What are you saying Matt, that Ken wasted $200 ?

Merlin66 (Ken) · #11 23-09-2018, 07:47 PM

I won’t argue the case, but a collimating laser can be removed from the telescope and “hand held”.....
Sure, if it is permanently built into a devise - laser leveling devise then you may be correct.

Rkonrad (Richard) · #12 25-09-2018, 02:02 AM

Is this for any laser ? including the low power collimation ones ?

Merlin66 (Ken) · #13 25-09-2018, 08:00 AM

Applies to hand held lasers over 1mW.
I've seen laser collimators advertised as <1mW, and when received have been marked "Output Power"<5mW.......

AndrewJ · #14 25-09-2018, 08:05 AM

Gday Matt
There was a long thread on this a few years back and someone got the Vic Police to confirm this, as all the states were different.
IIRC the answer was if it was a normally hand held device "temporarily" mounted in a bracket, it was still classified as requiring a permit.
Only if it was "designed into" and permanently fitted to a piece of equipment ( like a laser level etc ) was it treated differently,

Need to see if the thread still exists, but it didnt sound like the Vic Police were interested in doing anything that required discretion, which is probably why the astro society exclusion that works in other states is ignored here.

Andrew

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #15 25-09-2018, 10:47 AM

Just another money grab by the so called ' Powers that be ' its getting out of control , for crying out loud I just re did my car and motorcycle licence for 5 years at $149 , it was $35 only 5 years ago , this is getting out of hand !

Brian.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #16 25-09-2018, 10:59 AM

Brian, I disagree.
For various reasons hand held lasers are controlled in Vic as a weapon and as such require a permit.

CanopusA (Mick) · #17 25-09-2018, 02:45 PM

License for a small laser! What sort of nuttiness is that?

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #18 25-09-2018, 05:17 PM

Well if you are happy giving them $200 every couple of years for nothing , all the best , I personally agree with CanopusA , nothing but NUTTINESS ! .

Brian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Brian, I disagree.
For various reasons hand held lasers are controlled in Vic as a weapon and as such require a permit.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #19 25-09-2018, 05:49 PM

Ok,
Here in Vic my work with spectroscope design demands the use of these lasers...there are no legal alternative options.

LewisM · #20 25-09-2018, 06:21 PM

That's very expensive.

For a firearms licence, with 5 year validity, I pay MUCH less.

I am sure you could get a waiver though Ken, if you showed your scientific application. Perhaps even if you got the setup accredited by a University, CSIRO or similar?