Laws re: importing Green Laser Pointer???

[big_dav_2001]

Hi all
I had a battery leak and destroy my green laser pointer a few nights ago, I bought it before the new laws kicked in, and now cant seem to find a replacement anywhere except overseas via ebay... (not sure if they are still legal to be sold in stores in australia)...

Im just wondering if anyone knows of any restrictions regarding the strength and class of lasers which can still be imported under the new laws???

ive been told that only lasers of <1mW can be imported, but ive also been told that special permission is granted to amateur and professional astronomers...


Hope someone can clear it up for me...Any help much appreciated
Davin

[OneOfOne]

It may be worthwhile contacting customs to see what you need to do. You should be able to get some sort of permit to import it if you can prove you have a license for it. Otherwise, if you just buy it, I expect that customs would probably seize it when it came in, but if you could prove you have the appropriate license, they would probably release it to you.

If you can only import something less than 1mW, I wouldn't bother as even 5mW is borderline on being useful, unless it is very dark.

I think there are some companies in Australia who still sell them, but you would probably have to prove you have a license?

[hotspur]

Yes,good question,would be very interested to hear what is allowed and what is'nt,I did hear some mention that if one had a firearms licence that you were allowed to own one.It may have been one of the telescope retailers I heard that off,but unsure.

This is a very good question,it may have been tabled allready on IIS,but I am sure there are many that would like to know.I have a firearms licence,as I imagine a few would on these pages,so may be they might know a bit more.

Chris

[Nesti]

Legally you can purchase and/or import up to 1mW. The Orion LaserMate however is 5mW, so there are some exceptions.

You can obtain written permission, but they will only allow up to 5mW max (as of 12mths ago).

I know this because I've been through it all with Customs after they raided my house 12mths ago. They were looking for AirSoft BB Guns as my son put video recordings of us going mental in Thailand with Airsoft hand guns up on YouTube and Customs assumed the videos were taken in Aust even though we were using a vacant carpark with Bangkok skyline in every video clip (LOL). So after 6mths of compiling [incorrect] information we had 5 Customs and 3 police (shotguns, Kevlar vests etc) come knocking at the door. A very embarrassing day for them I suspect as we always leave them there.

Anyway, we had a 10mW and 25mW laser pointer which of course they confiscated (it was the only things they found actually). We wanted permission to have them back, but they were too high powered.

I've seen 200mW pointers overseas but that doesn't help you...they work well too.

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Davin,

I recently bought a 30mw from Sirius Optics http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/laser%20pointer.htm for my birthday and there were no issues at all.

I am a member of WSAAG so there is no requirement for me to register the device as there has been a number of posts here talking about Police regulations and such as I will only be using it for Astronomy purposes.

This link http://www.nas.org.au/HTML%20Pages/laser%20pointers%20and%20the%20law. htm has further information but here is the most important part

The Exemptions:
Persons exempt from the above requirement for a permit for possession and use of a laser pointer will include:

A member of an approved professional or amateur astronomical
organisation. This class of person is exempt from the requirement under the Act for a permit to possess or use a prohibited weapon referred to in clause 2(24) of Schedule 1 of the Act, but only for the purpose of
enabling the person to take part in activities associated with astronomy.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Chris

[OneOfOne]

Unfortunately, Victorian legislation doesn't have any exemptions :(. Pity the Victorian government didn't use NSW legislation as a guide.

[Satchmo]

It follows then that if I send a photocopy of astro society membership with a covering letter to an overseas supplier of a laser pointer, for customs to read when it comes through , that it should avoid confiscation ?

[Screwdriverone]

Dont really know about that Satchmo, I would check with the NSW Police and / or customs to be sure before attempting that, you may find that if you try it, you may lose it anyway if its incorrect.

This is why I bought mine from Qld, my 30mW one is beautiful and very easy to see all the way up to the stars I am pointing out.

Better to check it and double check it to avoid disappointment. Especially with importing.

PLEASE NOTE: the extract I posted from the NAS website was concerned with NSW laws which I think also apply to states without BANS on laser pointers (ie NOT VIC or WA/NT) this means that it is NOT illegal to own or buy a 20-30mW laser pointer in NSW or QLD WITHOUT A PERMIT - as long as you are a member of an Astronomical society and/or are purely using it in the legitimate pursuit of astronomy and NOTHING ELSE, you would have to check the SPECIFIC state laws where you reside for the laws applicable to you.
I offer no guarantee or accuracy to my statements, it is ALWAYS up to you to check your own circumstances and what applies in your area.

Cheers

Chris

[brightstar]

Satchmo,
That is not correct. The Customs Laws of this country, not some overseas company, state that it is illegal to import over 1 mW unless you obtain your local Police Approval and then apply to Australian Customs for permission to import. You should obtain these approvals prior to placing your order otherwise your Laser WILL be confiscated. There are special forms to be filled out and sent to both authorities for the necessary approval. You may find that the approvals are declined because most high power lasers are Class 3 non-eyesafe.
The Laws in Queensland are that no approval is necessary to own one, It is not illegal to own but it is illegal to use one 'illegally'. This was purposefully done so that the Police had the power to decide what was legal and what wasn't but to import you still had to go through the above procedure. Sirius Optics has to go through this procedure every time. Sirius Optics can legally sell them throughout Australia due to the provisions of the so called Australian Constitution gauranteeing free trade between the States. That does not mean that customers in States other than QLD should not get approval from their local Police. Sirius Optics are not bound to obtain this approval on your behalf. Sirius Optics import 20 and 30mW Lasers as most astronomy clubs believe that these are probably the pwer that is required for astronomy. The Astronomy Association of Australia has advised Police that only UPTO 5mW is required and some Police will not approve anything over this power as they see this association as being the 'ruling' authority.

Hopefully this clears up some misconceptions about Green Laser Pointer.

Ron;)

[Satchmo]

Thanks Chris and Ron for that clarification. It still looks like a bit of mine field for the individual.
A 30mw laser cost me $60 posted from Hong Kong before the ban. I've been tried to justify $159 for a while, but I sure miss my old laser. It was invaluable for pointing stuff out to beginners. Ron, if you're representing Sirius products you need to be explicit in your sig or something.

[big_dav_2001]

Thanks for the replies...
i was aware that Sirius Optics sold them in Qld, but wasnt sure if they could be sent to NSW...

I have since found out that pointers of <1mW can be imported without a hassle, but pointers of >1mW need to first have approval from the local police, THEN an application needs to be sent to customs to apply for an importation permit (which, if successful, only has a 3 week window, so if a delay occurs and you miss the window, bad luck)...

Think ill stick with Sirius...

Thanks again
Davin

[brightstar]

Hi Satchmo,

Sorry, I though everyone would be able to put 2 + 2 together and come up with 4. My User name being brightstar should have been a give away, considering that Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. I am the owner of Sirius Optics and apologise for any misunderstanding.

Ron

[Peter Ward]

ATS were selling rather high power laser pointers (125mw) for a time but given the increasingly litigious nature of Australian Society, I decided it frankly wasn't worth the risk of getting sued by a customer who wanted to see what would happen if they pointed it directly at their retina at point blank range....or simply allowed a child to play with it.

Affordable Class 4 lasers are now available and are easily visible in urban skies with a full moon (see attached). Just looking at the diffuse (reflected) spot at close range of a class 4 device, can damage your retina hence I would not recommend them for star pointing!

Sadly the physics behind these devices is poorly understood by many, particularly journalists, with improper use grabbing headlines and morose media beat-ups. The end result being draconian legislation by even more morose pollies....to quote Morris Iemma (NSW Premier at the time)

"Make no mistake about it, these could be used as weapons of mass murder"

One wonders why Al-qaeda never ran with the idea a $29.95 pointer could bring down a heavy jet.... :lol:

Like many things in Oz, if the powers that be don't understand it, they ban it. :(

[AstralTraveller]

Obviously the AAA isn't a 'ruling' body but that misconception may not be all bad. It possibly gives amateur astronomers some respect that a (perceived) 'ratbag' like myself would not receive and so may have helped make the legislation less draconian.

Unfortunately on the issue of necessary laser power they are wrong, or at least not completely correct. I have a 5mW mounted on my dobs and it is fine for pointing the scope under reasonable skies. It is even barely adequate in my light-polluted back yard. I also have a 30mW and it's use is a public viewing nights where there are lights shining from buildings, a major road nearby and a full moon. Thge 5mW would be lost there but with the 30 I can point out Crux or Scorpio etc to a small group and they can all see clearly. [Naturally the pointer is either in my hand or in my pocket. It is never left lying about.] I would not use the 30 under dark skies as it affects dark adaption too much and washes out the sky.

Judging from other posts I think other members here would agree with my assessmant. I have no idea how to contact AAA but if anyone could have a word in the appropriate ear it would be appreciated. :thumbsup: