Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
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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.