Jail Time For Pointing Laser At Pilots - 30 months!

[JDW]

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Ja ... 393-1.html

A 19-year-old man who pointed a powerful laser at a Netjets Cessna Citation and then at a police helicopter that responded to the pilot's complaints in Burbank, Calif., was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison. Adam Gardenhire pleaded guilty to the charge, which was made a federal crime last year. At sentencing, "Gardenhire basically argued that it wasn't dangerous, that he couldn't have known it was dangerous -- that basically he was just bored and entertaining himself," said Asst. U.S. Atty. Melissa Mills. "The judge found the facts didn't bear that out and his behavior was reckless and very dangerous."

Gardenhire was in his back yard, about a half-mile south of the airport, when he pointed the commercial-grade laser at the Citation on approach to land. The pilot was temporarily blinded and his vision was impaired for several hours, prosecutors said. Gardenhire's case was the second to be prosecuted under the new federal law; the other case, also in California, is still in court. Gardenhire remains free pending an appeal.

[Colonel Sanders]

This is what's known as a "good start".

Here's hoping that he makes lots of
intimate friends in prison.

[Phlyer]

Good. Had it happen to me and I am all for jail time when they catch them.

[jpilot77]

Good!

[Krimson]

That's great. I have been "lasered" twice, once low level and once about 2500 agl.

It can be pretty bad working single pilot low level. If it caught me in the eye I would definitely not have been able to climb away or recover blind before hitting the ground.

This is one of my favourite videos. Wish we all could have the equipment for this.....well actually wish that people would not being idiots trying to kill us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4C8grAGP4

[CID]

Jail time? Sure. 30 months? WTF?? I think this is an example of a situation where the punishment is greatly out of step with the "crime".

This reminds me (a little) of a notice I got last week regarding fines for failing to have airside passes (ramp passes) when required. They raised to fine from $250 to $1000. Ridiculous.

[Krimson]

Jail time? Sure. 30 months? WTF?? I think this is an example of a situation where the punishment is greatly out of step with the "crime".

This reminds me (a little) of a notice I got last week regarding fines for failing to have airside passes (ramp passes) when required. They raised to fine from $250 to $1000. Ridiculous.

Have to completely disagree with you on that.

The crime being potentially crashing an aircraft, I think 30 months is reasonable. If they do it again afterwards it should be life. When the day comes where an aircraft does go down because of a laser (who knows if it hasn't been a factor in a previous accident) what should the guy be charged with then? Why do we need an accident before dealing with the issue. What we really need is mass awareness. Tell the people what happens when you shine a laser into a pilots eyes and what the consequences are.

For you to forget your security pass when going to work and "sneaking" onto the airside, that's your own dumb mistake. $1000 is a reasonable fine.

[CID]

Why immediately assume someone is being sneaky? Maybe the thing falls off or you forget. There are plenty of ways to access the airside. By the way I just got notice of the increase. I wasn't fined nor do I knowingly access the airside without a pass.

And hey you have the right to disagree. But I have to wonder about the claim of blindness from the pilot. You just don't see widespread claims like this outside a cockpit. I guess cockpits are somehow amplifying the power of the "lasers".

[pelmet]

Should be made mandatory that all manufacturers of these lasers have to stamp onto the side of the lasers unit the penalties for shining at aircraft. Then less of an excuse for the sad sack excuses of how the pumishment is so terrible. Hopefully, lots of news about the sentence so that other jerks decide not to do the same.

[CID]

Pelmet....the mystery censor who apparently feels it's OK for moderators to call people names. Oh wait, you called my "excuses" a name. Not me.

My apologies.

[Krimson]

Why immediately assume someone is being sneaky? Maybe the thing falls off or you forget. There are plenty of ways to access the airside. By the way I just got notice of the increase. I wasn't fined nor do I knowingly access the airside without a pass.

And hey you have the right to disagree. But I have to wonder about the claim of blindness from the pilot. You just don't see widespread claims like this outside a cockpit. I guess cockpits are somehow amplifying the power of the "lasers".

Sneaky as in you are somewhere where you shouldn't be. It is very simple to gain access airside without literally sneaking around without showing your pass, but I mean the fact that you are airside when you should not be. If you get caught, it's your own mistake and the fine is completely justified.

You don't see widespread claims like this outside a cockpit because no one is stupid enough to shine a laser into someones eye standing in front of them. For some reason it should be okay because you feel anonymous from the ground when shining into someones eyes flying overhead?


If you don't think it is such a problem, go pick one up at the store, shine it in your eyes and then go drive home.

[CID]

Krimson, these commercial lasers aren't controlled. Anyone can buy one. Now don't you think that by now people would be blinded on a regular basis? Just the frat houses across the country should be overwhelmed by blind frat boys who run around in a drunken haze with laser in hand. I just don't buy it. Pilots are grossly exaggerating the effects in my opinion. Yes there are studies that put forward various possibilities regarding these devices and injury or disruption but there are far too many variables to think there is a high probability.

[pelmet]

Krimson, these commercial lasers aren't controlled. Anyone can buy one. Now don't you think that by now people would be blinded on a regular basis? Just the frat houses across the country should be overwhelmed by blind frat boys who run around in a drunken haze with laser in hand. I just don't buy it. Pilots are grossly exaggerating the effects in my opinion. Yes there are studies that put forward various possibilities regarding these devices and injury or disruption but there are far too many variables to think there is a high probability.

Always someone to make excuses for the irresponsible. You raped someone....not at fault as there was abuse when younger. You stole from someone....well CEO's are paid too much, you murdered someone....insanity must be the reason or was it sleep walking this time. Broke your leg while breaking into someone's house......you will sue them for endangering you.

CID wouldn't volunteer to see what it is like to be lasered but no problem if it is someone else....after all, they are just exaggerating the pain.

Sorry....buddy is going to the slammer for 30 months. Who's next.

[CID]

Pelmet if you bothered to comprehend my posts, I explained that I felt that jail time was appropriate. Just not 30 months. Rape? Really? You're comparing a rampant laser to rape?

No, I'm not an apologist. I just like to see the punishment match the crime. Ironically, pointing a laser at an airplane will give you more jail time than a rapist.

And sure I'll volunteer Go ahead and point a laser at me from a few thousand feet away. Ironically (again) I've had experience with this sort of thing and yes...I can still see.

[Krimson]

Now don't you think that by now people would be blinded on a regular basis? Just the frat houses across the country should be overwhelmed by blind frat boys who run around in a drunken haze with laser in hand

I think you have watched a few too many movies. Knowing quite a few "frat boys", trust me, they too would not be stupid enough to run around shining lasers in people's eyes.

Pilots are grossly exaggerating the effects in my opinion. Yes there are studies that put forward various possibilities regarding these devices and injury or disruption but there are far too many variables to think there is a high probability.

I just did a bit of research, and found:

Anything over 5mW is the general rule for causing permanent damage if flashed directly in the eye or hit with a reflection as you cannot blink or turn away fast enough for there not to be permanent damage. Even with 5mW pointers there is still risk so you should never shine them towards anyone or let them shine them at you.

In addition it is not wise to ever shine anything over 5mW around without goggles because reflections off of shiny objects can hit you right in the eye with enough power to do as much damage as if the laser was pointed right in your eye. This could be off of anything from keys, metallic candy wrappers, glass, etc. You cannot always predict what it may hit that is why you never ever use a laser over 5mW without goggles indoors The only time to not wear goggles is outdoors if you point it at a very far off object away from aircraft when you can be absolutely positive there will be no reflection. The tops of trees in the distance would be an example.

Now considering you can easily buy a 50mW pointer for $40, you can do some serious damage with it. I don't think anything is exaggerated about this. There are also cases online where pilots have lost vision in one eye for a few minutes and some where total vision loss slowly returning after short amount of time. You make it sound like it's not a big deal and even offered to have one shined in your eyes...I think you should do a bit of research before joining these idiots.

PS. Reading some more about people getting hit in the eye and what "laser enthusiasts" have to say about it; it seems pretty terrifying. Here is an example. 11 pages of people who know how dangerous it is freaking out...Still up for getting that laser in your eye?

[Krimson]

A few stories for you.

The co-pilot—who had command of the plane at the time—was sent to the hospital for treatment for a minor eye injury, NBC New York reports. No arrests have been made (yet), but idiots who get caught shining laser pointers at planes face up to 20 years in prison, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. In 2009, a California man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for laser beaming a cockpit.

On Sunday night, JetBlue Flight 657 from Syracuse was making its final descent into JFK Airport when the cockpit was lit up by a beam of bright green light coming from the ground. First Officer Robert Pemberton was hit in the eyes and temporarily blinded, but the pilot was able to take over the controls and safely land the plane containing 84 passengers.
Pemberton's injuries were serious enough that he was hospitalized, but sources tell the Post that his eyesight wasn't permanently damaged. Laser-related incidents on planes are a surprisingly prevalent problem. In the New York area, pilots reported being hit with blinding lasers 141 times last year.

Captain Robert Hamilton of the Air Line Pilots Association, International was landing a plane when he was struck by a laser light. “I had temporary blindness. My eyes were burning. It caused disorientation, and it was distracting,” he says.

Then there are the responsible owners (the majority thankfully)

I too use my green laser pointer as the very handy astronomical device that it is.

With that said, I handle it like a loaded gun, and am very careful what I point it at - planes, or anything else. One of the good local observing sites is near an airport (Boundary Bay), and I leave my laser pointer at home when I go there.

Most people who own a laser are very responsible with it. It's the morons who think it's fun to shine it at aircraft. As a pilot to say there is nothing wrong with it is idiotic. Sorry, but it is really my biggest pet peeve. Thinking it's all good and fun until I loose my medical/life because of some idiot on the ground with a laser. As one person said

I love lasers.....

But if someone is going to use them to bring down an airplane with all those people on board and below. then they should be charged with terrorism not public mischief.

Maybe being charged with committing a terrorist act would be a more effect deterrent to those people who get their kicks from blinding pilots.

We should follow USA on this one

Those who aim a laser pointer at an aircraft can be prosecuted under two federal statutes. A law put into effect this year makes pointing a laser at an aircraft a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $11,000 per violation. Under a law already on the books, those who interfere with the operation of an aircraft can receive up to 20 years in prison and be fined $250,000.

[Siddley Hawker]

The penalty for shining a laser in someone's eyes should act as a deterrent to other fuckwads who contemplate doing the same thing. Is 30 months too much or too little, that's the question. I think it's about right, and now a precedent has been set.

[CID]

Krimson, that's a nice little story but it's apples and oranges. It doesn't help this discussion to introduce anecdotes without providing important context. From Wikipedia:

Class 4 is the highest and most dangerous class of laser, including all lasers that exceed the Class 3B AEL. By definition, a class 4 laser can burn the skin, or cause devastating and permanent eye damage as a result of direct, diffuse or indirect beam viewing. These lasers may ignite combustible materials, and thus may represent a fire risk. These hazards may also apply to indirect or non-specular reflections of the beam, even from apparently matte surfaces—meaning that great care must be taken to control the beam path. In most states it is illegal to sell preassembled class 4 lasers, however a citizen can construct a class 4 laser for personal use. Class 4 lasers must be equipped with a key switch and a safety interlock. Most industrial, scientific, military, and medical lasers are in this category.

It's like bringing up a bazooka in a discussion about pea shooters.

[CID]

You know what? I'm wrong. I re-read the original story. I missed the fact that a "powerful" laser was used. I assumed from some of the other posts it was a "store bought" variety. Yes, in this case the punishment fits.

[Mitch Cronin]

CID..... That retraction shows a kind of class not often seen here. Good on ya!

[Colonel Sanders]

It's a good thing there is no readily available
information on the internet, telling you how
to build powerful lasers for pennies, out of
old junk computers:



CID, would you be happy with this being aimed
at your eyeballs?

[CID]

What's your point Hedley? Would you like a hot poker to the crotch?

[Colonel Sanders]

Ooh, don't get testy on me now.

[flyer 1492]

Thirty months is far too light of a sentence. With good behaviour hell be out in less than 6 months. Criminal record will last a life time.

[bizjets101]

If you happen to be Canadian, in Canada you'll never get prison time for shinning a lazer!!!

BTW in Calfornia he'll do about 2 years on a 3 year sentence - no such thing as out in 6 months.