UK: Laser owners can be arrested on sight if acting dodgy - Polidicks

[quote=BBC News][img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45742000/jpg/_45742230_laserjpg.jpg[/img] [b]There has been a marked rise in the number of UK pilots reporting incidents of laser torches being shone at their aircraft.[/b] In 2007 there were 29 incidents but this rose to 206 cases in 2008, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. Sgt Andy Watson of Thames Valley Police said such devices "could potentially kill hundreds of people by causing a crash". Police said anyone found with a laser torch could be arrested on sight. The warning comes after pilots and air traffic controllers submitted their annual Mandatory Occurrence Reports to the CAA. More than 75% of planes targeted were commercial airliners. The worst affected areas were regional airports with 15 in Cardiff, 12 in Manchester, nine in Liverpool, nine in Birmingham and seven in Edinburgh. The CAA said seven incidents had been reported in Oxfordshire which did not have a large commercial airport, although it was on a busy air traffic route and many private planes used Oxford Airport, Kiddlington. Capt Robert Jones, head of flight operations at the CAA, said: "These things are not toys, they pose a serious risk to all flight safety." [b]Light refraction[/b] Police said the sale of industrial lasers was restricted in the UK but many were available to buy on the internet ranging in price from £20 to £300. Mr Jones said the beam from a class three laser could be seen up to 20 miles away. If the beam is shone into the cockpit it can refract on the thousands of surface scratches on the aircraft's windscreen, making the whole windscreen temporarily light up and blinding the pilot, he added. Thames Valley Police said it was working in partnership with other regional police forces, the CAA and other government departments to track down the perpetrators of the attacks. Sgt Watson, of Thames Valley Police Operational Support, said: "I'd like to issue a warning to all would-be laser users - we have the technology and tactics to catch people who do this. "If you are found with a laser device, you can even be arrested for simply carrying it if the questioning officer is not satisfied with your reasons for having one." [/quote] [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8187503.stm[/url] Don't point lasers at planes, kids.

I gotta see what it looks like.

The UK Police can arrest people for parties AND lasers?

Good, whatever divvy cunt thought it would be funny to blind a fucking airliner pilot while it is still flying deserves capital punishment. We need capital punishment again god damn it. In case you didn't know, capital punishment is death sentence.

This is how it should be done. Shine it outside on public place = you are an idiot and deserve to be arrested.

[QUOTE=Billiam;16518755]The UK Police can arrest people for parties AND lasers?[/QUOTE] Except this makes sense. Shining a laser at a plane is just absolutely retarded.

I'm sure they'll find some loophole to classify this sort of activity as terrorism :v:

For once, I agree with this UK law. now we need an 09er, to complete the combo

[QUOTE=smallfry;16518847]I'm sure they'll find some loophole to classify this sort of activity as terrorism :v:[/QUOTE] Terrorism isn't thrown about here in the UK like it is in America. Specially after the patriot act.

Planes fly themselves, the pilot only needs the window on take-off and landing.

[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;16518777]Except this makes sense. Shining a laser at a plane is just absolutely retarded.[/QUOTE] I don't know anyone stupid enough to do that in my neighborhood :geno: And I know some retarded people.

Can someone tell me how is it possible to hit plane with those? Planes are fucking fast

[QUOTE=Mezmer;16518971]Can someone tell me how is it possible to hit plane with those? Planes are fucking fast[/QUOTE] So is light.

[QUOTE=Mezmer;16518971]Can someone tell me how is it possible to hit plane with those? Planes are fucking fast[/QUOTE] Planes do not travel faster than light.

[QUOTE=Billiam;16518980]So is light.[/QUOTE] He means how can you accurately point at something that fast moving and far away with a laser.

[QUOTE=Voice;16518990]He means how can you accurately point at something that fast moving and far away with a laser.[/QUOTE] It's not very hard, the aircraft usually appears slower from a distance, and the laser pointer is pretty darn accurate.

[QUOTE=Billiam;16519031]It's not very hard, the aircraft usually appears slower from a distance, and the laser pointer is pretty darn accurate.[/QUOTE] Also, the glass isn't on the bottom, and seeing as you are underneath the planes, how can you shine it on their window? unless you are very, very far infront of it so that the angle is just right, but then, it's so small i don't see how you could possibly aim, one slight move and you are several miles off.

:ughh: somthing broke mah emote

[QUOTE=The mouse;16519075]:ughh: somthing broke mah emote[/QUOTE] You sit on a plane and I'll get a few lasers and blind the pilots and we'll see how you like it if they crash.

I own a 20mW laser, but I'd never dream of taking it out in public - let alone point it at an incoming bloody aircraft.

[QUOTE=Voice;16519046]Also, the glass isn't on the bottom, and seeing as you are underneath the planes, how can you shine it on their window? unless you are very, very far infront of it so that the angle is just right, but then, it's so small i don't see how you could possibly aim, one slight move and you are several miles off.[/QUOTE] Nah, I believe you're making it out harder than it actually is, the light energy spreads the further the distance is, so you don't really have to be spot on. Look at signal-mirrors, it's basically like that, except with a laser :P

Good news, half the people I see with these pointers are cunts, I was walking to the beach one time and a kid on the beach about 300m away pointed the laser at me, got me in the eyes, and it burned my retina, had to go to hospital, fortunately the damage did heal to a degree, if I walk into a light room from a dark one I can see the scar tissue across my vision. Anyway all for this, people should need to get a license to own these things and using them in public areas should be an offence as they are just too dangerous.

[QUOTE=ThePunisher1;16519195]Good news, half the people I see with these pointers are cunts, I was walking to the beach one time and a kid on the beach about 300m away pointed the laser at me, got me in the eyes, and it burned my retina, had to go to hospital, fortunately the damage did heal to a degree, if I walk into a light room from a dark one I can see the scar tissue across my vision. Anyway all for this, people should need to get a license to own these things and using them in public areas should be an offence as they are just too dangerous.[/QUOTE] You should've got a family member to go after the tard who blinded you.

[QUOTE=markg06;16519210]You should've got a family member to go after the tard who blinded you.[/QUOTE] I was with three friends, it was late evening and the area we were going to and where the kid was a regular beach party area, anyway there was a more pressing issue was the massive pain coming from my head and eyes. I did find out who did it though, this kid nicknamed Buddha, he went to prison eventually for stabbing someone though, so at least some form of justice has been served. TO post below, yeah he did xD He had a bebo account and I saw all these comments saying they hope he gets released soon and stuff, and his dad was saying he needs to all the support he can get. Fortunately at least one person saw sense and wrote that 'he fucking stabbed someone, he deserves prison', something along those lines though :)

[QUOTE=ThePunisher1;16519195]Good news, half the people I see with these pointers are cunts, I was walking to the beach one time and a kid on the beach about 300m away pointed the laser at me, got me in the eyes, and it burned my retina, had to go to hospital, fortunately the damage did heal to a degree, if I walk into a light room from a dark one I can see the scar tissue across my vision. Anyway all for this, people should need to get a license to own these things and using them in public areas should be an offence as they are just too dangerous.[/QUOTE] Jesus, Im sorry for you. That prick will get whats coming to him.

What? That's weird because your eyes have no nerve endings, which is part of the reason why when doing eye surgery it usually isn't a problem for them do just not give you any sedatives (and because they need you to be awake). Also I've had lasers shown in my eye, they don't do do any permanant optical damage unless you stare into one for a while... and even then there's no "scarring". Though I'm talking about standard red laser pointers, I don't know if you are talking about a high powered green one or not.

[QUOTE=KorJax;16519339]What? That's weird because your eyes have no nerve endings, which is part of the reason why when doing eye surgery it usually isn't a problem for them do just not give you any sedatives (and because they need you to be awake). Also I've had lasers shown in my eye, they don't do do any permanant optical damage unless you stare into one for a while... and even then there's no "scarring". Though I'm talking about standard red laser pointers, I don't know if you are talking about a high powered green one or not.[/QUOTE] Yeah it was a green one, red pointers are pretty harmless, I will tell you now it hurt like a massive massive headache about a second after it hit my eye.

[QUOTE=KorJax;16519339]What? That's weird because your eyes have no nerve endings, which is part of the reason why when doing eye surgery it usually isn't a problem for them do just not give you any sedatives (and because they need you to be awake). Also I've had lasers shown in my eye, they don't do do any permanant optical damage unless you stare into one for a while... and even then there's no "scarring". Though I'm talking about standard red laser pointers, I don't know if you are talking about a high powered green one or not.[/QUOTE] i don't know about you but my eyes really fucking hurt if i try to stare into, say, the sun, or even just really bright lights and lasers definitely aren't harmless to your eyes

Couldn't this because they are worried plane systems won't be able to distinguish a high-powered laser pointer with, say, the locking mechanism of a missile?

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;16519859]Couldn't this because they are worried plane systems won't be able to distinguish a high-powered laser pointer with, say, the locking mechanism of a missile?[/QUOTE] uhh, airliners don't have systems that detect missiles