I don't mean shining them into the eyes of drivers etc that's plainly illegal and stupid, I mean winding people up by shining the dot on them or the clothes of their friends as they walk down the street.
2006-08-25 22:46:04 · 16 answers · asked by 127.0.0.1 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Well, when people shine the highpowered ones into airplane cockpits from the ground (as their taking off ans landing) they are breaking rules established by the FAA. You can be arrested. It can be even worse if you end of blinding the pilots and they make an error in landing (if you understand what I mean.)
As far as aiming them at people, I'm sure you could probably be arrested for it, depending on the officer. It could really frighten people, making them think they are being aimed at.
It'll be worse if you aim a laser light at a police officer. There's a very good change that if you do that, you WILL get shot. Officer, like most folks I assume, don't like it when you're being aimed at. There has been more than one case of a person being shot by an officer, because the officer thought we was about to be shot at.
It'd be best if you only play with them at school. Yes, schools will take them away if they catch you, but it's better than going to jail or getting shot at.
2006-08-25 22:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by amg503 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Section 13A-11-7
Disorderly conduct.
(a) A person commits the crime of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:
(1) Engages in fighting or in violent tumultuous or threatening behavior; or
(2) Makes unreasonable noise; or
(3) In a public place uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture; or
(4) Without lawful authority, disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons; or
(5) Obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or a transportation facility; or
(6) Congregates with other person in a public place and refuses to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse.
(b) Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
under sections (1) and (4) of this alabama criminal law, you can be charged with an actual crime for the laser pointer. Someone can say you were doing it as a threat to their safety and well-being therefore covering section (1). Under section (4), you pointing that laser pointer at someone or a group of people could disrupt or disturb what they were intending to do. There is also that new federal type deal that I am not real sure about. The new domestic terror laws. They pretty much say anything that you do to cause panic in the general public can be percieved as a terroristic threat. Like I said, I am not real sure on that one, but I believe that is the just of it. Hope this helps.
2006-08-25 23:00:30 · answer #2 · answered by HBPD 126 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't as simple as yes and no.
Laser pointers under (IIRC) 10mW power are perfectly legal for use as pointers. Higher powered lasers are not. The colour of the light also has an effect - the original pointers were red but yellow green and now even blue lasers are on sale. I'm not sure how legal these are.
I use my low power pointer to tease my cat - she can't resist trying to catch the spot :)
2006-08-25 22:59:53 · answer #3 · answered by scouse_susan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What exactly is the purpose of a laser pointer, anyway? Besides being a great way to drive your cat insane? Yes, I do the "chase the spot" thing with my cats, too.
It seems that as dangerous as they potentially are, they are fairly easy to get a hold of... so what grand purpose do they serve, besides being a way to point out things on a slideshow presentation? Even PowerPoint has it's own built in pointers.
2006-08-26 04:45:10 · answer #4 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure they are, out of principle for the fact that it's illegal to shine the light into the eyes of people and onto certain vehicles.
2006-08-25 22:50:11 · answer #5 · answered by minstrel_of_munificence 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In TX it is illegal to shine it on police officers, but it could be illegal if it causes a panic in the general public. Dont do it...
2006-08-26 17:09:49 · answer #6 · answered by Walter J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pranks aren't illegal but if there is a bad result to the prank and you get caught that's different - it's all fun and games till someone get's hurt, and as someone said someplaces if they see a red dot they shoot in that direction getting shot for a prank kind of takes the fun out of it
2006-08-29 20:25:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not technically unless you cause blindness or eye damage by catching somebody's eye with the beam. However I'd probably hurl colourful abuse at you if you did it to me depending on my mood at the time!
Best bet, don't mess with people you never know what reaction you'll get!
2006-08-25 22:50:24 · answer #8 · answered by CeeO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its illegal in my country after a boy blinded his eye playing with them
Anyway its a stupid thing to be given to children to play
2006-08-25 22:57:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be illegal. If you merely say that they are annoying, then that will encourage there use, because annoying people is precisely what users are trying to do.
2006-08-29 20:30:48 · answer #10 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋