Update on Laser Pointer Laws

[erick (Eric)]

I reckon you'll find that "hand-held" will be interpreted to include "hand-holdable". Haven't seen that tested yet. Be aware that some of the laser collimators are rated >1mW. We would not have thought of these as hand-held laser pointers, but I'm sure they would be captured.

I haven't heard that Victorian laws are changing.

I previously posted:-


From the list of prohibited weapons in Victoria is the following:-

"Laser pointers
Hand-held battery-operated articles that are designed or adapted to emit a laser beam with an accessible emission limit of greater than 1 mW."

To be licensed to possess and use, you need:-

Application for the Chief Commissioner of Police's Approval for a Prohibited Weapon. (Including the usual 140 points of identification and certified copies of identification documents. Having a suitable referee. Giving acceptable reason(s) why approval should be given for you to possess and use the prohibited weapon.)

An application/licence fee of $154 (when I applied in 2007) for a three year licence.

Meeting storage requirements of a "locked cupboard, cabinet or safe of sturdy construction" etc.

Here is the URL for documents:-

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content...ocument_ID=139

[Kal (Andrew)]

Thanks Erick, I thought that was the case but wasn't sure.

[gregl456]

Originally Posted by erick

<SNIP>To be licensed to possess and use, you need:-

Application for the Chief Commissioner of Police's Approval for a Prohibited Weapon. (Including the usual 140 points of identification and certified copies of identification documents. Having a suitable referee. Giving acceptable reason(s) why approval should be given for you to possess and use the prohibited weapon.)

An application/licence fee of $154 (when I applied in 2007) for a three year licence.

Meeting storage requirements of a "locked cupboard, cabinet or safe of sturdy construction" etc.

Here is the URL for documents:-

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content...ocument_ID=139

Erick - many thanks for that excellent info. Looks like there's no escape

(Wonders) If the said pointer is fixed to a large OTA, then does the requirement for keeping the pointer in a safe still apply?

[DistroMan (Trevor)]

$154 licence fee for three years? You have GOT to be joking! Highway robbery. Glad I'm not living down there.

[wmzaphod]

Just a thought.......

Does anyone know what the "dangerous" range is for these things?

It's just that the beam on my 25mw pointer spreads out significantly over 20 meters and I doubt it would even dazzle someone at 500 meters would it be as bright as a car's headlight - would you see it and say "oo, that's a bright green (or blue) light - I don't know........

I'm sure the authorities have run some tests or measurements to actually prove there is a danger

Sorry for the dumb questions but - 25mw is not much power at all and, if it's not focused perfectly (are any of them), it will dissipate very quickly.

[tornado33]

Im glad NSW has gone a more sensible way. Its nice to know that in NSW I am now considered a perfectly legitimate and legal laser owner/user and can now collimate my scopes with my red laser colimator, and point out things in the sky at local Society viewing nights with my green pointer, which is precicely why I bought them.

regarding storage. I always store the pointer WITHOUT batteries, as apart from safety, I found that the batteries slowly drain even if it isnt used.

If I lived in Vic, Id be an illegal user!

[wmzaphod]

Qld announced weapons legislation changes this week and included laser pointers!

No more details as yet.....

[caleb]

i have a some lasers pointers for a hobby, they arent very powerful but i think im gonna need one for my telescope, but iv beenn told i only need 1mw. wich im prety damn sure is way to unpowered, i reckon 30mw atleast. butdoes anyone know where i can get a 1mw 532nm pointer, i just want to be proved that it cant do it. and, they are so boring i cant find them anywhere.

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by caleb

.....butdoes anyone know where i can get a 1mw 532nm pointer, i just want to be proved that it cant do it. and, they are so boring i cant find them anywhere.

I also doubt 1mW will do, except in very dark skies. I say 5mW is what one needs unless in quite bright skies and/or a large group of people to show the sky, then maybe 20mW.

Here is a source of 1mW - he seems to have two types of 1mW:-

Contact Matthew Lovell in South Australia

PH: 61+ 8 8381 3188
FAX: 61+ 8 8381 3588
telescopes@adam.com.au
http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au

He advertises:-

"GREEN LASER POINTERS

We are licensed importers and retailers of Green, Red and Blue Lasers. All Lasers have a 3 month warranty. We offer a repair service for all Laser Pointers. We exchange your broken Laser for a new one if kept in good condition and purchased from us:

JLP Series Green Laser Pointer

JLP-1mW - $80AUD
JLP-5mW - $115AUD
JLP-10mW - $170AUD
JLP-20mW - $240AUD
JLP-30mW - $280AUD
JLP-50mW - $340AUD
JLP-100mW - $490AUD
JLP-350mW - $990AUD
JLP-400mW - $1190AUD

Astronomy 1mW Green Laser Pointer $100AUD

Various Laser Modules available"

[caleb]

Originally Posted by trav

As both a pilot and amateur astronomer I'm very pleased with this outcome.

What's the odds we'll get iceinspace cleared as an approved professional or amateur astronomical organisation”

hmm, so does this mean i can get the import forms filled out and say im a member of IIS to get a pointer?

I believe at minimum a 5mw pointer for a personal 'finder' is probably the least power useable. But instead of spending money on a 5mw that wont be powerful enough to just get a 10mw for a fraction of the cost more.

And im quite certain that a large group standing upto 10-15m away will need atleast 15mw-30mw.

Or maybe when blue lasers become cheaper they will make it 0.1mw.

I'm training to be a pilot at moment
almost upto solo...

Originally Posted by trav

I reckon you'll find that "hand-held" will be interpreted to include "hand-holdable". Haven't seen that tested yet. Be aware that some of the laser collimators are rated >1mW. We would not have thought of these as hand-held laser pointers, but I'm sure they would be captured.

only 'hand-held' pointers that are battery powered are part of this ban.
so modules, lab lasers and diodes are perfectly legal. (to an extent)

[tornado33]

Glad I dont live in VIC

Regarding the law in NSW, as we now know membership of a bona fide Astronomy society allows us to use them for this purpose, but whats the go re- buying new ones? can they still be purchased here, or imported frome o/seas from ebay etc?

Laser collimators may need to be more than 1 mw to be seen on clean or freshly coated mirrors. Then theres the fancy grid collimators, that must surely be quite a few mw to project a grid across the whole mirror.
Scott

[g__day (Matthew)]

I ponder a 1,000,000 candlepower bulb would be more dazzling and dangerous than a normal laser, but these lasers have considerable range - dazzling to 5+ km at night.

I wonder how long before 200mW lasers are re-stickered to to say 1/200mW laser

[BalderAsir (Nick)]

as both a pilot and amateur (new) astronomer i understand where the frustration is coming from with these laws. I have, sadly, been stung with a green laser whilst on approach to land, thankfully my mate in the right hand seat was a pilot and he could take over because my night adaptation was shot and and i temporarily lost my ability to judge my height and position to the runway. So in that sense I am happy with the tough crackdown on laser lights.

Now, that been said, from the other side (our) side i understand that many use these to help align and show others around the sky i like the way that the authorities are going with allowing people to own lasers if a member of an astronomy club or get a permit to own one, An all out ban would have been a major upset for our community.

Either way, so long as they can crack down on the idiots using these for the wrong reasons is a good thing, i mean, honestly, how many of you are going to set up your scope any where near an airport and leave them on for an extended period of time. I take it you all turn it on, align, then switch off right

[snowyskiesau]

Thought I'd pass this news item along.

[BalderAsir (Nick)]

Good on them.

[Jeff]

When collecting my confiscated Laser Pointer & Bracket from Customs at Melbourne airport today, they informed me that mine was the first released by them in Victoria since the new laws came into effect on June 30.

The post here summarises how release by Customs was organised. The Ministerial Approval letter which I received from Canberra did however stress that "prior" import approval would be required to successfully receive any future units.

Cheers,
Jeff