Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005

MSmith

MSmith

Line Up and Wait
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Mark Smith
The House has passed a bill setting a penalty of $250,000 or up to 5 years in prison (or both) for shining a laser pointer at a plane.

Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

HR 1400 EH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1400

AN ACT

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.

(a) Offense- Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 39. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft

`(a) Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

`(b) As used in this section, the term `laser pointer' means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, place, item, or object.'.

(b) Amendment to Table of Sections- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`39. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.'.

Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2005.

Attest:
Clerk.

109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1400

AN ACT

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, and for other purposes.
Click to expand...

Here's the kicker. As I read this, the ADIZ warning laser is illegal!
 
of course, you forgot the golden rule
1. "Those that have the gold make the rules" and
2. The rules don't apply to those who make the rules.
 
gkainz said:
of course, you forgot the golden rule
1. "Those that have the gold make the rules" and
2. The rules don't apply to those who make the rules.
Click to expand...
This is way too many years ago, but wasn't it Article 137 of the UCMJ -- whoops (I had to look it up), article 134 which says:

934. ART. 134. GENERAL ARTICLE
Though not specifically mentioned in this chapter, all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special or summary court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court.

Or basically, if ya do something we don't like, we're gonna nail ya anyway...
 
MSmith said:
The House has passed a bill setting a penalty of $250,000 or up to 5 years in prison (or both) for shining a laser pointer at a plane.



Here's the kicker. As I read this, the ADIZ warning laser is illegal!
Click to expand...

I didn't read that. What they shine at you isn't a "Laser Pointer"

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST AIMING A LASER POINTER AT AN AIRCRAFT.

`(b) As used in this section, the term `laser pointer' means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify a specific position, place, item, or object.'.
Click to expand...

What they are using is a targeted signalling device which is not covered under this legislation.
 
Well here's another "feel good - do nothing" law. So what else is new?

Dakota Duce

"May All Your Flights Be Of Good Weather!"
 
Henning said:
I didn't read that. What they shine at you isn't a "Laser Pointer"



What they are using is a targeted signalling device which is not covered under this legislation.
Click to expand...

So it's still legal to point a high power laser at an aircraft, just don't use a pointer.
 
lancefisher said:
So it's still legal to point a high power laser at an aircraft, just don't use a pointer.
Click to expand...

Yep. Gotta love the rules.
 
i think you must have a permit or some kind of license to operate the more dangerous classes of lasers. sorta like firework/explosives permits. they mention 'laser poitners' which would definately fall into one of the categories below. (i found by googling)

there is more than likely already regulations about pointing any of the more powerful/dangerous lasers at anything. so this does sort of make sense.

Class 1

This class is eye-safe under all operating conditions.

Class 1M

This class is safe for viewing directly with the naked eye, but may be hazardous to view with the aid of optical instruments. In general, the use of magnifying glasses increases the hazard from a widely-diverging beam (eg LEDs and bare laser diodes), and binoculars or telescopes increase the hazard from a wide, collimated beam (such as those used in open-beam telecommunications systems).

Radiation in classes 1 and 1M can be visible, invisible or both.

Class 2

These are visible lasers. This class is safe for accidental viewing under all operating conditions. However, it may not be safe for a person who deliberately stares into the laser beam for longer than 0.25 s, by overcoming their natural aversion response to the very bright light.

Class 2M

These are visible lasers. This class is safe for accidental viewing with the naked eye, as long as the natural aversion response is not overcome as with Class 2, but may be hazardous (even for accidental viewing) when viewed with the aid of optical instruments, as with class 1M.

Radiation in classes 2 and 2M is visible, but can also contain an invisible element, subject to certain conditions.

Classes 1M and 2M broadly replace the old class 3A under IEC and EN classification. Prior to the 2001 amendment there were also lasers which were Class 3B but were eye-safe when viewed without optical instruments. These lasers are Class 1M or 2M under the current Classification system.

Class 3R

Radiation in this class is considered low risk, but potentially hazardous. The class limit for 3R is 5x the applicable class limit for Class 1 (for invisible radiation) or class 2 (for visible radiation). Hence CW visible lasers emitting between 1 and 5 mW are normally Class 3R.
Visible class 3R is similar to class IIIA in the US regulations.

Class 3B

Radiation in this class is very likely to be dangerous. For a continuous wave laser the maximum output into the eye must not exceed 500mW. The radiation can be a hazard to the eye or skin. However, viewing of the diffuse reflection is safe.

Class 4

This is the highest class of laser radiation. Radiation in this class is very dangerous, and viewing of the diffuse reflection may be dangerous. Class 4 laser beams are capable of setting fire to materials onto which they are projected.

Any laser product of a given Class may contain 'embedded' lasers which are greater than the Class assigned to the product, but in these cases engineering controls (protective housings and interlocks) ensure that human access to radiation in excess of product Class is not possible. Notable examples of this are CD and DVD players which are Class 1 laser products while containing Class 3R or Class 3B lasers and laser printers which are Class 1 laser products but contain Class 4 embedded lasers.

Note:- for a product to be classified correctly, it must be tested at the maximum output accessible under reasonably foreseeable single-fault conditions (eg in the drive circuitry). A non-M class product must pass both Condition 1 and Condition 2 of Table 10 in IEC/EN 60825-1, and an M-class product (which by definition has failed either Condition 1 or 2) must pass the irradiance condition in the same table.

* Generally speaking lasers are point sources while LEDs are extended sources. Extended sources have higher power limits than point sources for a given laser Class. Therefore a visible LED emitting 10 mW may be Class 2, while a visible laser pointer of the same power would be Class 3B. NB Laser pointers above Class 2 are banned for sale to the public by trading standards.
Click to expand...

haven't found anything on license/permits besides at the city level.
 
mmilano said:
i think you must have a permit or some kind of license to operate the more dangerous classes of lasers. sorta like firework/explosives permits. they mention 'laser poitners' which would definately fall into one of the categories below. (i found by googling)

there is more than likely already regulations about pointing any of the more powerful/dangerous lasers at anything. so this does sort of make sense.
haven't found anything on license/permits besides at the city level.
Click to expand...



We use all sorts of lasers at work although none are powerful enough to cut steel or knock missles out of the sky. No permits etc are required there. You can buy some fairly powerful lasers online no questions asked except credit card number.
 
i remember these guys who did lasers shows at music events had to have special permits to use the lasers themselves. maybe it is just if you use them in public? i don't know. I do know those lasers burned the side of a speaker though. :)
 
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