What lasers will be classified prohibited weapons?
Hi,
Please find attached an article written by Senior Constable Tony Tamplin in The Star on 21/5/08, a newspaper circulating in the Lake Macquarie & Newcastle area.
It provides interesting insight into what classes of laser are being considered as prohibited weapons i.e that means you will require a permit regardless of whether you are a member of an astronomical society or not (my interpretation).
Please find attached an article written by Senior Constable Tony Tamplin in The Star on 21/5/08, a newspaper circulating in the Lake Macquarie & Newcastle area.
It provides interesting insight into what classes of laser are being considered as prohibited weapons i.e that means you will require a permit regardless of whether you are a member of an astronomical society or not (my interpretation).
Remember anything above 1mw is Class 3 or 4.
Richard
My interpretation is that it says MAY be required to get a permit for class 3 or 4.
Having said that, a criminal record check is no biggie.
They are common in my field of construction where we are regularly working on bulk cargo wharvs etc. Every employee who will be in a position to be able to get on a ship, or receive items from a ship, must have a criminal check before we are allowed to employ them.
THE Federal Government has banned the importation of high-intensity laser pointers, which have been used in attacks on passenger airliners landing at airports.
The new regulation will make it a criminal offence to import a laser pointer stronger than one milliwatt, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said.
Mr Debus said to make the ban truly effective he is calling on the states and territories to urgently establish uniform national laws to support the Commonwealth's controls.
"I have written to police ministers calling on them to put in place legislation which imposes fines and jail terms for possessing pointers above one megawatt without an appropriate exemption," Mr Debus said.
The ban follows a series of incidents where lasers with the potential to blind pilots have been pointed into the cockpits of passenger liners landing at Sydney airport. In one coordinated attack, four lasers were simultaneously pointed at an aircraft, making it difficult for the pilot to land.
Legitimate users of lasers such as surveyors, astronomers and those in the construction and mining industries can apply for an exemption to the ban, Mr Debus said.
To deal with the numerous high-intensity lasers in the community, he said the Government will work closely with relevant agencies to develop an education campaign.
The ban will become effective on July 1. State and territory police ministers will discuss the issue on June 13.
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I've highlighted the relevant bit... I just wish I knew what 'applying for an exemption' meant in this context. Getting a licence, or perhaps as in the NSW announcement, just providing proof of membership to an astro society?
thanks for the updates guys!
I cant help wondering whats going to happen when laser tv's start circulating? i believe its later this year the first commercial one is available, and they sound superior to all before it, a 72inch! my understanding is that these are a rear projection type of deal, like ones before it, but with a red, green and BLUE! laser for the colours, kinda like that recent telstra "3D' teleconference, will they be holographic kinda? wait till there old and people start removing lasers from them? maybe i misunderstand their construction and have got it wrong?
Where would I find a list of Local Astro Soc's in western Sydney....
I am not active at the moment due to my workload.... but I'd like to remain legal....
Is there any clubs that can be joined via payment over the web ?
I was at a certain astroshop the other day and the phone was ringing hot with enquiries for lasers.
They were flying out the door one after the other.
I do hope it was legitimate amateur astronomers getting one before they **maybe** banned, rather that kids and idiots getting them since they've become the new yoyo like craze due to all the media trumped up BS and hype
Where would I find a list of Local Astro Soc's in western Sydney....
I am not active at the moment due to my workload.... but I'd like to remain legal....
Is there any clubs that can be joined via payment over the web ?
harb
the bintel newsletter has a list of astro clubs and contact details
I guess we were so busy watching what the State Government was doing we didn't think to look at the Fed's.
I certainly didn't. And I don't think they even announced that they were looking at it - they just did it (Was that an election policy? Or is this an example of Rudd style consultation?) At least they specified a power. I guess in the end it is the same end result - either dispose of my 10mw laser or a get a permit (or two).
Richard
Quote:
Originally Posted by xraydelta1
This just posted on The Herald Sun website:
--------------
May 30, 2008 11:03am
THE Federal Government has banned the importation of high-intensity laser pointers, which have been used in attacks on passenger airliners landing at airports.
The new regulation will make it a criminal offence to import a laser pointer stronger than one milliwatt, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said.
Mr Debus said to make the ban truly effective he is calling on the states and territories to urgently establish uniform national laws to support the Commonwealth's controls.
"I have written to police ministers calling on them to put in place legislation which imposes fines and jail terms for possessing pointers above one megawatt without an appropriate exemption," Mr Debus said.
The ban follows a series of incidents where lasers with the potential to blind pilots have been pointed into the cockpits of passenger liners landing at Sydney airport. In one coordinated attack, four lasers were simultaneously pointed at an aircraft, making it difficult for the pilot to land.
Legitimate users of lasers such as surveyors, astronomers and those in the construction and mining industries can apply for an exemption to the ban, Mr Debus said.
To deal with the numerous high-intensity lasers in the community, he said the Government will work closely with relevant agencies to develop an education campaign.
The ban will become effective on July 1. State and territory police ministers will discuss the issue on June 13.
-------------------------------------------------
I've highlighted the relevant bit... I just wish I knew what 'applying for an exemption' meant in this context. Getting a licence, or perhaps as in the NSW announcement, just providing proof of membership to an astro society?
Hi i am new to this forum/community and i am looking forward to joining any clubs or societies. I currently live in Wahroonga, Sydney and i have no clue where the nearest astronomy gathering is. I would like some information please.
Some people might think that i would be joint the society so i can legitimize my laser (350 mW - Class 3b). This is partly true but i would however like to participate in astronomy events and meet with like minded people.
Please respond to Kingnicii@gmail.com because this forum is blocked on the current internet blocker at work. (hopefully fixed soon)
I received a communication from our local federal member Kay Hull yesterday enclosing a letter from Bob Debus, the Minister for Home Affairs.
I quote the relevant parts below.
" The government created a new import control on May 15th to come into effect on 1st July 2008. this import will restrict (my underline) the importation of certain handheld laser pointers with an accessible emission level above 1mW. The new arrangements will balance the risk to aircraft with the legitimate use of laser equipment by responsible citizens.
The government is contacting known importers prior to 1 July, as well as other legitimate user groups, to advise them of the new restriction. Customs will also be providing guidance to assist legitimate users in understanding the permission process for the importation of laser pointers after 1 July 2008. This information will be available on the Customs website or by emailing weaponspolicy@customs.gov.au.
To apply for permission to import you must first obtain a B709B form- Importation of Weapons-police authorisation from your local police firearms registry authorising you to possess the goods. If you successfully obtain a B709B form, you must then complete a B710 form- Application for Permission to Import Schedule 2 and 3 Weapons. This form is availble in the forms section on the Customs website at www.customs.gov.au. and must be forwarded to Customs with the original B709B Form issued by the police firearms registry"
Some people might think that i would be joint the society so i can legitimize my laser (350 Mw - Class 3b). This is partly true but i would however like to participate in astronomy events and meet with like minded people.
Hi Nicholas, I'm not sure how welcome your 350 mW (not 350 Megawatt I hope ) laser would be at starparties! 5 to 20 mW are more than sufficient for amateur astronomical purposes. But you are welcome to get involved with astronomy! Eric
I've got to ask, what on earth do you use a 350mw laser for? Pointing out daytime stars perhaps! My 10mw (also a class 3B I believe) is ample in a suburban area of Newcastle unless it's a full moon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingnicii
Hi i am new to this forum/community and i am looking forward to joining any clubs or societies. I currently live in Wahroonga, Sydney and i have no clue where the nearest astronomy gathering is. I would like some information please.
Some people might think that i would be joint the society so i can legitimize my laser (350 Mw - Class 3b). This is partly true but i would however like to participate in astronomy events and meet with like minded people.
Please respond to Kingnicii@gmail.com because this forum is blocked on the current internet blocker at work. (hopefully fixed soon)
Hi Nicholas, I'm not sure how welcome your 350 mW (not 350 Megawatt I hope ) laser would be at starparties! 5 to 20 mW are more than sufficient for amateur astronomical purposes. But you are welcome to get involved with astronomy! Eric
Corrected my mistake, thanks. But now i want a 350 Megawatt laser.And thanks iceman for the link
No, but I can guess. Laser collimators can be over 1 mW. Some are spec'd at 5mW. I expect they will be captured under the legislation. My GSO one doesn't state the power in the labelling on the outside.
I had a red laser pointer on my desk and had a look the other day. Surprisingly, it was 5mW! It's gone into the safe with the green 5mW.
As luck would have it I just placed an order for a laser collimator for an SCT from OPT in the states. They emailed me back today saying there would be a two week delay @#$%&* . The laser is a 5mw red type and I also own a 5mw green laser which I use as a teaching aid for both physics and astronomy. There has been little press in WA but I have been reading some stuff on google about the proposed NSW law and saw that teachers are on the exempt list. Has that happened with the final law or not??? As a teacher I hope that is the case as our mob will probably follow suit.
In Victoria, any hand held laser over 1mW has been a prohibited weapon for some time, requiring permission from the Commissioner for Police to possess and use.
Hi i am new to this forum/community and i am looking forward to joining any clubs or societies. I currently live in Wahroonga, Sydney and i have no clue where the nearest astronomy gathering is. I would like some information please.
Some people might think that i would be joint the society so i can legitimize my laser (350 mW - Class 3b). This is partly true but i would however like to participate in astronomy events and meet with like minded people.
I would like to know this as well. How higher of mW would be an acceptable for legitimate import and use in an Astronomy club. 5, 10, 20, 300 ect..
Of course 300mW is probably overkill but could it but legitimized in this sort of application? Also I live in SA.
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).
) laser would be at starparties! 5 to 20 mW are more than sufficient for amateur astronomical purposes. But you are welcome to get involved with astronomy! Eric 
And thanks iceman for the link
. The laser is a 5mw red type and I also own a 5mw green laser which I use as a teaching aid for both physics and astronomy. There has been little press in WA but I have been reading some stuff on google about the proposed NSW law and saw that teachers are on the exempt list. Has that happened with the final law or not??? As a teacher I hope that is the case as our mob will probably follow suit.
