New lazer laws

[danielsun]

Just got off the phone to Roger from Bintel and he has informed me that Bintel at this stage have put a hold on selling lazer pointers due to anything over 1mw is considered illegal!!
Roger has been in discussion with the police and apparently astronomical associations and clubs should be receiving notice about this sometime soon to allow only members to be able to purchase lazer pointers through their associations.

[Ric]

Hi Daniel, considering the time we live in I suppose it had to happen.

I'm always cautious not to use mine towards the south west as that points over the landing approach for Canberra airport.

The last thing I want is for some armed response unit to be kicking my door down thinking I'm a terrorist cell or something.

Cheers

[erick (Eric)]

I've lodged my application for Police approval to possess and use a laser pointer. Had a call seeking a more detailed explanation of the use I plan to put it to. I wrote a treatise on pointing telescopes and indicating targets in the sky to the public and sent it in. Now I wait.

ps. I've started to look at the cheapest safes in Bunnings - yes, to store a 5mW laser pointer.

[bizarro (Greg)]

Anyone know the NSW position on laser pointers?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by danielsun

Roger has been in discussion with the police and apparently astronomical associations and clubs should be receiving notice about this sometime soon to allow only members to be able to purchase lazer pointers through their associations.

Onya Daniel

That would be a good outcome if they made green lasers permissable for Amatuer Astronomers and not the general public.

That may also mean that Amateurs wanting to purchase one may have to join a Club! And not every Amateur wants to be in a club.

Good on you Roger for getting into the talks with Police. It has been an unknown law thing for too long. We may be breaking the law and not know it. This will hopefully sort it out.

[casstony]

Originally Posted by erick

ps. I've started to look at the cheapest safes in Bunnings - yes, to store a 5mW laser pointer.

A safe or fire resistant box is also handy for storage of essential documents in the event of a house fire, so you'll get dual use out of it.

[danielsun]

Originally Posted by bizarro

Anyone know the NSW position on laser pointers?

Hi bizarro, at this stage it seems to be only Victoria though there was mention that other states may follow suit .

[danielsun]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Onya Daniel

That would be a good outcome if they made green lasers permissable for Amatuer Astronomers and not the general public.

That may also mean that Amateurs wanting to purchase one may have to join a Club! And not every Amateur wants to be in a club.

Good on you Roger for getting into the talks with Police. It has been an unknown law thing for too long. We may be breaking the law and not know it. This will hopefully sort it out.

Hopefully soon you will get a letter Ken, i am very interested in what exactly will be outlined in the notice for members to be able to own a lazer, weather we must sit a test or not and storage requirements.

[anthony2302749]

Hi all

Just to clean up some lose ends. It was the Victorian Police that approach BINTEL in regards to selling green laser points. In short, BINTEL Melbourne must be license to import and sell lasers in Victoria (paperwork pending). BINTEL can only sell green laser points to customers who have a valid license obtained from the Victorian Police.

As for astronomical societies, the society has to apply for an exemption from the law (something to do with the Victorian Governor) so that its members can process and use green laser pointer as part of their hobby, so this means that BINTEL can only sell laser points to a customer who has a valid membership to a society.

Currently to the best of my knowledge no society has exemption, but I do believe the Astronomical Society of Victoria is in the process of seeking exemption for its members but this will take time.

Anthony

P.S. We where aware that the Victorian Police were interested in the procession of and sale of green laser pointer in Victorian due to a previous discuss on IIS regarding a member buying a laser from E-Bay.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Ric

Hi Daniel, considering the time we live in I suppose it had to happen.

I'm always cautious not to use mine towards the south west as that points over the landing approach for Canberra airport.

The last thing I want is for some armed response unit to be kicking my door down thinking I'm a terrorist cell or something.

Cheers

Yours, and also that of anyone related to you in any way, as it seems to be just now. I just don't know if I want to be protected that much....

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by anthony2302749

Hi all

Just to clean up some lose ends. It was the Victorian Police that approach BINTEL in regards to selling green laser points. In short, BINTEL Melbourne must be license to import and sell lasers in Victoria (paperwork pending). BINTEL can only sell green laser points to customers who have a valid license obtained from the Victorian Police.

I was wondering what must have "kicked it off". Funny how some crim can shoot inocent people in the city...nothing happens about guns. A cyclist kills a person and gets a "failing to stop at a red light" fine. But buy a laser pointer off EBay and all hell breaks loose!

[asterisk (Geoff)]

I first heard this on the news this morning:

Laser beam 'targeted Qantas pilot'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...09/2000254.htm

I don't think that this will be too helpful for future non-intervention by governments.

[Ingo]

It's legal to own any laser pointer, and use it inside your property, no matter what power.

It is illegal to point it in airspace above 4.99mW in the USA, and I guess, 0.99mW in Australia. But as long as you keep safe and don't fool around with airplanes, you shouldn't have any problems.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Ingo

It's legal to own any laser pointer, and use it inside your property, no matter what power.

Laws vary from state to state here in Australia let along country to country !

We have much tighter gun laws here in Australia, are you willing to make the same statement about those too?

I think it's best that each person with a laser pointer should find out exactly where they stand in relation to their local laws.

[Ingo]

Originally Posted by Rocket Boy

Laws vary from state to state here in Australia let along country to country !

We have much tighter gun laws here in Australia, are you willing to make the same statement about those too?

I think it's best that each person with a laser pointer should find out exactly where they stand in relation to their local laws.

Guns are different than lasers. I don't see your point.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Ingo

Guns are different than lasers. I don't see your point.

My point is that you made a general statement saying:

Originally Posted by Ingo

It's legal to own any laser pointer, and use it inside your property, no matter what power.

This may be the case in the U.S (where you live) but each country has different laws governing these products, just like there's differing gun laws between countries.

To post a generalised statement saying you can use any laser "no matter what power as long as you don't point it at a plane" is apparently contrary to what Australian law says regarding these lasers.

Since this discussion is dealing with an Australian distributor I think this point needed to be emphasised and corrected !

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

One problem is that any ol' hick can obtain a laser (even in Victoria) and point it at a plane, either deliberately or by accident, and those who have a valid reason for having one (us) stand to suffer the consequences! Even though all that happened was that a pilot was dazzled, he is unlikely to point the plane into the ground. The "worst" conceivable outcome is that someone is blinded.

People can obtain a gun, illegally or not, and shoot someone (or many people) and nothing seems to happen to the gun owners in general. They can continue to use their guns the same as they did the day before. The "worst" conceivable outcome is mass murder, let alone blindness.

It seems to me that the consequences we stand to suffer are disproportional to the illegal act performed...point a laser at the wrong thing and they consider taking them off everyone who has them. Kill someone and you can still keep your gun!

[Sgtfretsurfer]

wow, i wish id known some of this stuff about a year ago. i bought a 35mw green laser from 'wicked lasers', which got into the country as the company imported it as a 'pen light'. I loved it, and went crazy! i used it everywhere just for fun, totally naive to the fact that it was illegal. It got stolen from the back of my car like alot of my other gear a little while back, which cut me deep. But on the upside, i dont have to worry about being caught with an illegal laser!

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by erick

I've lodged my application for Police approval to possess and use a laser pointer. Had a call seeking a more detailed explanation of the use I plan to put it to. I wrote a treatise on pointing telescopes and indicating targets in the sky to the public and sent it in. Now I wait.

ps. I've started to look at the cheapest safes in Bunnings - yes, to store a 5mW laser pointer.

Eric, I'll be very interested to hear your outcome. If it's favourable, also would greatly appreciate a copy of your testimony for similar use.

Regarding a Safe, through my import buisness I have a good contact with a security manufacturing co. in Shanghai. They make both keyed & Finger Print Recognition safes. A good friend of mine is the sales mgr & I'm sure I couild get a reasonable deal if we had some interest fo a few orders.

Bryan

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I also made a point of saying that I would be using it for public viewings, which I do, for showing various objects. I didn't need to offer any further information, although this was a couple of years ago now. I think mine runs out next year.