General

[voodooballer]

hence why I said i didnt know if it was private or not. However why are you not friends with wideguy? :P

[Moses688]

We were all speculating at what the punishment would be, here's a quote from the article linked below, "Kenneth Santodomingo now faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine."

We'll see what they come up with at sentencing...

Man who admitted to aiming laser pointer at Dallas PD’s helicopter pleads guilty to federal crime | Crime Blog

[PolarMonkey]

So shining a laser at a helicopter is an instant federal crime, but in most places I've been it is either perfectly legal (or the laws are unenforced) for any a-hole to mod their car or truck with ridiculously bright aftermarket HID headlights or fog lights and blind all oncoming traffic? How does that make sense?

[Moses688]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

So shining a laser at a helicopter is an instant federal crime, but in most places I've been it is either perfectly legal (or the laws are unenforced) for any a-hole to mod their car or truck with ridiculously bright aftermarket HID headlights or fog lights and blind all oncoming traffic? How does that make sense?

I think it's because a laser pointer can blind a pilot.

Those headlights are a bummer but not collimated coherent light.

[PBRevolution]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

So shining a laser at a helicopter is an instant federal crime, but in most places I've been it is either perfectly legal (or the laws are unenforced) for any a-hole to mod their car or truck with ridiculously bright aftermarket HID headlights or fog lights and blind all oncoming traffic? How does that make sense?

Apples to oranges, sight is much more important to pilots then it is to drivers.

[ta2maki]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

So shining a laser at a helicopter is an instant federal crime, but in most places I've been it is either perfectly legal (or the laws are unenforced) for any a-hole to mod their car or truck with ridiculously bright aftermarket HID headlights or fog lights and blind all oncoming traffic? How does that make sense?

Aren't air traffic governed by federal laws while road traffic is pretty much governed by the state?

[Mike Deep]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

So shining a laser at a helicopter is an instant federal crime, but in most places I've been it is either perfectly legal (or the laws are unenforced) for any a-hole to mod their car or truck with ridiculously bright aftermarket HID headlights or fog lights and blind all oncoming traffic? How does that make sense?

Not at all the same thing.

Improperly installed or aimed HIDs will dazzle at most. You still have the ability to see after they pass. Lasers can temporarily or permanently blind victims even after the beam is gone.

[PolarMonkey]

Originally Posted by Mike Deep

Not at all the same thing.

Improperly installed or aimed HIDs will dazzle at most. You still have the ability to see after they pass. Lasers can temporarily or permanently blind victims even after the beam is gone.

I wasn't saying they were the same. I was venting my frustration that "lasering" pilots was taken so seriously (which it should be), while blinding drivers seems to be ignored in many places.

I think it'd be safe to wager that many more people have been killed or injured due to being blinded by oncoming traffic with improperly modified lights than have ever been blinded, hurt, or killed by lasers while flying. It is another one of those examples where authorities/society making a huge deal out of a very small threat while largely turning a blind eye () to a greater, much more common one.

[PBRevolution]

The offender gets sentenced to 30 months in prison,


BBC News - Man gets 30 months in prison for shining laser at plane

The article mentions that he had previous shined laser at a business jet, so this wasn't his only instance.

[chrislognshot]

Originally Posted by PBRevolution

The offender gets sentenced to 30 months in prison,


BBC News - Man gets 30 months in prison for shining laser at plane

The article mentions that he had previous shined laser at a business jet, so this wasn't his only instance.

i am finally glad to see them make example out of him. and other will might not try to do this again too.