Couple Busted For Shining Laser At Helicopter

coondoggie sends us to another Network World piece, this one about a couple charged with shining a green laser into the cockpit of a police helicopter. The FBI and the US attorney's office charged the California couple under a federal statute. They could end up paying a $250,000 fine and doing 20 years of jail time. "The complaint states that on November 8, 2007, at about 10:55 p.m., a green laser beam illuminated the cockpit of a Kern County Sheriff's Department helicopter, which was flying at 500 feet during routine patrol in Bakersfield, California. When the light hit the cockpit, it disoriented the Kern County Sheriff's pilot, causing pain and discomfort in his eyes for a couple of hours, the FBI said in a statement."

Comments

Re:Obligatory

[r2rknot]

$250,000 and 20 years. Definitely an issue cruel and unusual punishment if they got that, imho. At best I can see them being hit with some negligence suit from the pilot from the damage caused. Unless their is a law in place preventing members of the public from illuminating aircraft in operation. If they can prove though, that the couple had the intention of causing the aircraft to crash, they may have a good reason to pursue trial.

Re:What kind of laser?

[Intron]

can't see much non-classroom legitimate use for laser pointers. "sky pointer" is just stupid.

Either you have zero imagination or you just woke up at 2:00 PM to post that comment. Those lasers are powerful enough to show up (ie: a green line) when pointing out stars and constellations to your significant other or children.

A white stick works just as well and can also be used to hit morons with laser pointers over the head.

I'm not really sure how a laser would bring down a plane though. Do you really think the pilots are up there doing dives and loops and such?

Have you ever been blinded by a driver who didn't dim his headlights? Now imagine something about 5 times as bright.