2yrs in jail for pointing a laser at a plane - Aircraft of World War II

comiso90 · 11-04-2009, 03:40 PM

Two years in jail for pointing a laser at a plane | Gadling.com

The "sport" of pointing a laser pointer at a plane is not new - many people have been arrested for the stupid stunt.

Last week was a first though - someone caught pointing their laser at two planes was arrested, and sentenced to two and half years in jail.

His first target was a United Airlines plane carrying 180 passengers. When the beam hit the cockpit window, the pilot caught it right in the eye, causing "flash blindness". The second target was an Alaska Airlines jet, this time the pilot was able to duck below a glare shield, but did have to abort a critical turn.

There appears to be no shortage of stupidity in the world, and shining a laser pointer at a jet just reinforces that. I'm not even sure what is going through the mind of someone who thinks this is a fun game.

These planes are carrying a lot of people, and in many cases they are on their final approach, one of the most critical parts of the entire flight. To me, two and a half year is on the short side - but hopefully it'll still send a message to anyone else who was thinking of messing around with their laser pointer.

Vassili Zaitzev · 11-04-2009, 03:49 PM

Good they caught that jackass!

B-17engineer · 11-04-2009, 04:31 PM

I hope its the worst two years of your life!!!!!!!!

ToughOmbre · 11-04-2009, 04:43 PM

"Stupid is as stupid does", to coin a phrase.

Never underestimate the stupidity of the human race.

Jail time is justified.

TO

Bucksnort101 · 11-04-2009, 05:27 PM

17 Year old "Kid" a few blocks from where I live was caught shining a laster pointer at a helicopter this past Summer. Helicopter ended up being a State Patrol Helicopter and they busted the individual almost immediately. Excure was that he did not know it was illegal and didn't think it would do any harm!

Gnomey · 11-04-2009, 07:30 PM

Been a few cases of this over here as well. I agree with you comiso that he should of got a longer term,, only a matter of time before an accident is caused by something like this

RabidAlien · 11-04-2009, 11:42 PM

I'm torn on this one. Part of me wants them to plaster this all over the news, to get the word out that yes, being this FRIKKIN STUPID is illegal. But then another part of me realizes that the idiots of the world will see that as a challenge, and we'll have a rash of laser-pointer incidents until an accident DOES happen and many lives are lost.

Don't worry, though...I agree that the idiots who are busted need to go spend a LOT of time in General Population. I just wish it were 5 years instead. The case could very easily be made that it was ____ number of attempted premeditated-manslaughter counts (fill in blank with number of souls on board plane, passengers and crew alike).

Shinpachi · 11-05-2009, 10:13 AM

What a toy!
What are they enjoying?!

comiso90 · 11-05-2009, 10:33 AM

I wonder how they caught him???

Shin... thats pretty cool... I wish i had that when i was 12. i wonder how much power the diode can handle?

4 x D size batteries?
Car battery?

Trebor · 11-05-2009, 02:08 PM

very interesting, Shinpachi

they shoulda given him a loooot more. that's extremely dangerous. if either of the planes had crashed, he prolly woulda been charged with mass murder and sentenced to life or death

syscom3 · 11-05-2009, 03:06 PM

Heres the OC register story on it. The guy lived a couple of miles away from me.

Man gets prison for pointing laser at airliners | welch, laser, pilots, plane, angeles - News - OCRegister.com

wheelsup_cavu · 11-06-2009, 04:38 PM

Thanks Sys.
I didn't realize that this one happened in Southern CA.

Wheels

BikerBabe · 11-06-2009, 06:07 PM

There was a case of pilots being bothered by laser lights at Roskilde Lufthavn here in Denmark earlier this year, a sentence of up to max 8 years in prison was mentioned.
I'll see if I can find the outcome of that case. Turned out it was a middle-aged man, who was tired of the planes and choppers landing at Tune/Roskilde Airport, and so he did what he could to bother the pilots.

11-04-2009, 03:40 PM	#1
comiso90 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL Posts: 3,294	2yrs in jail for pointing a laser at a plane Two years in jail for pointing a laser at a plane \| Gadling.com The "sport" of pointing a laser pointer at a plane is not new - many people have been arrested for the stupid stunt. Last week was a first though - someone caught pointing their laser at two planes was arrested, and sentenced to two and half years in jail. His first target was a United Airlines plane carrying 180 passengers. When the beam hit the cockpit window, the pilot caught it right in the eye, causing "flash blindness". The second target was an Alaska Airlines jet, this time the pilot was able to duck below a glare shield, but did have to abort a critical turn. There appears to be no shortage of stupidity in the world, and shining a laser pointer at a jet just reinforces that. I'm not even sure what is going through the mind of someone who thinks this is a fun game. These planes are carrying a lot of people, and in many cases they are on their final approach, one of the most critical parts of the entire flight. To me, two and a half year is on the short side - but hopefully it'll still send a message to anyone else who was thinking of messing around with their laser pointer. __________________ http://www.BOOKSonWAR.com/ . Last edited by comiso90; 11-04-2009 at 03:47 PM.

11-04-2009, 03:49 PM	#2
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,221	Good they caught that jackass! __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

11-04-2009, 04:31 PM	#3
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,675	I hope its the worst two years of your life!!!!!!!! __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-04-2009, 04:43 PM	#4
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	"Stupid is as stupid does", to coin a phrase. Never underestimate the stupidity of the human race. Jail time is justified. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

11-04-2009, 05:27 PM	#5
Bucksnort101 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,204	17 Year old "Kid" a few blocks from where I live was caught shining a laster pointer at a helicopter this past Summer. Helicopter ended up being a State Patrol Helicopter and they busted the individual almost immediately. Excure was that he did not know it was illegal and didn't think it would do any harm! __________________ A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year. That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles per gallon.

11-04-2009, 07:30 PM	#6
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,217	Been a few cases of this over here as well. I agree with you comiso that he should of got a longer term,, only a matter of time before an accident is caused by something like this __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

11-04-2009, 11:42 PM	#7
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,823	I'm torn on this one. Part of me wants them to plaster this all over the news, to get the word out that yes, being this FRIKKIN STUPID is illegal. But then another part of me realizes that the idiots of the world will see that as a challenge, and we'll have a rash of laser-pointer incidents until an accident DOES happen and many lives are lost. Don't worry, though...I agree that the idiots who are busted need to go spend a LOT of time in General Population. I just wish it were 5 years instead. The case could very easily be made that it was ____ number of attempted premeditated-manslaughter counts (fill in blank with number of souls on board plane, passengers and crew alike). __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

11-05-2009, 10:33 AM	#9
comiso90 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL Posts: 3,294	I wonder how they caught him??? Shin... thats pretty cool... I wish i had that when i was 12. i wonder how much power the diode can handle? 4 x D size batteries? Car battery? __________________ http://www.BOOKSonWAR.com/ .

11-05-2009, 02:08 PM	#10
Trebor Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,107	very interesting, Shinpachi they shoulda given him a loooot more. that's extremely dangerous. if either of the planes had crashed, he prolly woulda been charged with mass murder and sentenced to life or death __________________ THANKS NJACO FOR THE SIG PIC!! Southern Comfort III of the 8th Air Force, 44th Bombardment Group. Captain George R. Insley (pilot) commanding, Rudolph Jandreau Engineer/top turret gunner

11-06-2009, 04:38 PM	#12
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 1,534	Thanks Sys. I didn't realize that this one happened in Southern CA. Wheels __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

11-06-2009, 06:07 PM	#13
BikerBabe Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denmark. Posts: 958	There was a case of pilots being bothered by laser lights at Roskilde Lufthavn here in Denmark earlier this year, a sentence of up to max 8 years in prison was mentioned. I'll see if I can find the outcome of that case. Turned out it was a middle-aged man, who was tired of the planes and choppers landing at Tune/Roskilde Airport, and so he did what he could to bother the pilots. __________________ Kein Anderer als ein Jäger spürt - Den Kampf und Sieg so konzentriert, Das macht uns glücklich, stolz und froh - Der Jägerei ein Horrido! "

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