Green laser at Police Helo

[I.C.D]

Did anyone hear the news today about an idiot who targeted a police helicopter with a green laser the police landed near the site and with the help of other police have arrested and charge a 19 year old with interfering with aircraft in flight .I hope they throw the book at him and THE PRESS make a big thing about his sentence as a warning to other idiot who may be thinking of doing the same thing

[OneOfOne]

I hope he is NOT one of US! I don't expect he would be...hanging would be too good :)

[tnbk00]

The moral to the story...if the police helicopter get in the way of omega centauri don't chase them away with a scope mounted laser........i find it hard to believe that it would be an astronomer...i find it harder to believe that this is still happening......loser teenagers with lasers...making life difficult for the rest of us.

[Galactic G]

For those who want to read an article on the matter:- http://www.theage.com.au/national/police-chopper-zapped-with-laser-20080619-2t4i.html

[Louwai]

Good to see that the article specifically acknowledges "Astronomy Groups"

[cookie8]

Interesting article! "Distracted and disorientated" crew still managed to "pinpoint" origin of laser! Amazing.
Can't wait to see the details of new law regarding astronomers not belonging to any club carrying laser pointer in public.
:doh:
Vincent

[Outbackmanyep]

I don't think the word "idiot" cuts the cheese here, more like total f-wit!

[Ric]

In the immortal words of Monty Python "Crucifixion is too good for them"

They should make an example of them for others to see and think about.

[Screwdriverone]

Just wanted to say: It wasnt me! ;)

Bella Vista is close to where I am but no cigar and I have no laser either.

The Polair chopper does some frequent training runs around here and its good to see that they we have one less idiot roaming the streets being a clown.

I saw them in the area that night but wasnt sure what they were doing.

Havent they heard of a Playstation?

Fair dinkum

Chris

[§AB]

wow, a new high for stupidity!

[bcoote]

Was in Brisbane a few weeks back going for a takeaway after dark. Only traveled about 1 Km before all the oncoming headlights in the central part of my vision were bright green. All the interior LCD displays also had a central green bright spot. Presume it was some idiot in an oncoming car or one of the roundabouts but I was not aware of the origin. It took a good 10 mins to fade.
:screwy: Brian

[tornado33]

It says the permit will be free of charge too, thats a rare thing nowdays, government offering permits for free :)

[Galactic G]

Yet another idiot.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23903166-5005961,00.html

What are these twits thinking?:screwy:

[Suzy_A]

Rare indeed...

I have an explosives licence. It use to cost $15 a year, but recently has been going up by about $2.50 a year, which is OK.

This year's renewal just came - $60.

But on top of that, I now also need a medical certificate, National Police Clearance, ASIO clearance, and to do a 'refesher' course, so that adds up to about $1000 or so.

That's about a 6700% increase in a couple of years.

[renormalised]

I'd fix the idiots....they'd be doing 6 months of community service (like garbage collection or gardening) and if they tried to dodge that, then the cops would be around and they'd end up doing an automatic year stretch in jail. If they resisted arrest by legging it or whatever, they'd be doing 2 years. If their stupidity caused harm to someone or even caused their death, they'd be charged with either GBH or manslaughter.

[GrahamL]

Thats the way it is suzy..all this extra cash we shell out mostly goes
to the bureaucrat that has to administer it ..and on every level its
the user who pays ...But is the industry safer as a result ?

[snas]

Up here in Qld, the ruling on lasers, as passed on from the police minister to the president of our astro society, is that although the laser is a potential weapon, so is a rock or a steak knife. Therefore, carrying a laser in public is ok as long as you have a fair reason. I believe there was not going to be a requirement to be a member of an astro society, but I may be wrong there. Also not sure re any permit.
Someone mentioned seeing a news article re some people who had been detained for using lasers vs aircraft, and mentioned that the lasers in question appeared to be much larger than those used by astronomers.
Stuart

[jshad84]

the comments about idiots is right. why would you distract someone driving something that can fall on you???

As another issue, what about legitimate uses? I don't have a laser pointer and am not planning on getting one, but what happens when someone is using their telescope in their backyard and accidentally hits a plane / chopper whilst moving their scope etc? Personally I think that they wouldn't be charged as it would be accidental, and a reasonable use, but does anyone else have an opinion?

[madtuna]

accident or not, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law. it is up to the user to be aware of his surroundings

[Zuts]

Exactly, if i was examining a loaded rifle for which i had a permit and it accidently went off and shot someone then I would be toast.

It is my responsibility to exercise due care in anything i may be doing...

Paul

[jshad84]

I was more thinking or planes etc in flight paths, around 1000m up etc. I suppose that the thing to do would be turn off a laser as soon as you hear aircraft, and ones you cant hear wouldn't be at risk as air particles etc would make the beam diffuse before it reached the plane?

I did not mean to suggest that ignorance is an excuse. I agree with you fully on that. I was more playing devils advocate...

James

[erick]

Just listen up, you'll hear it in enough time. Then have a look. If you can see the stars, you'll certainly spot where the plane is. Usually they are on a path well away from your laser beam - so fine, keep using it.

But if you are observing with earplugs in and music playing - be careful.