Idiot busted lasering landing planes

[gorn]

Here is a neat video of Washington State Troopers catching an idiot that had been hitting planes with a green laser while trying to land in Seattle.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bd3_1245182005

Hope the guy gets locked up for a long time.

 

[allthatwhichis]

Looks like that guy must have gotten fired on his day off twice...

 

[Optik49]

Great teamwork! :thumbsup:

 

[Vinniec5]

AHH Thermal night vision is the coolest of all the night scopes. Reminds me of Blue Thunder. Moron doesn't even realize he's screwed LOL until the 2am knock on the door

 

[Illum]

hes lucky it isn't a military aircraft...
some helicopters have laser trackers to take out enemy front observers trying to point their lasers at them. It only takes awhile for the turret to learn the angle and azimuth before we have our first ground casualty

 

[MarNav1]

Dunderheads! I like a cool laser as much as the next guy but seriously doesn't the dummy know he could kill somebody? Stupid is as stupid does. :shakehead:scowl:

 

[spearsniper]

Its worrying to see that this trend is catching on - in New Zealand this time.
I do like the fact that the paper has published this idiots photo, name, and age.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2493522/Aeroplane-laser-light-culprit-named

Vladimir Maricic

 

[dudu84]

Does anyone know or can estimate if the laser he used is 5mW or 200mW type? If it's 200mW then I'd blame the Chinese manufacturers for creating these kinda of products and have it sold to general public. Imagine some kids have it (took from his elder brothers?) and just pointing it randomly to people's eyes or some idiots pointing them at the planes (like this guy did) :sigh:. It should be banned from being mass produced in the first place :shakehead

 

[Alaric Darconville]

If it's 200mW then I'd blame the Chinese manufacturers for creating these kinda of products and have it sold to general public.

It should be banned from being mass produced in the first place :shakehead

That's like blaming GM for having windows in a car that roll down, facilitating drive-by shootings.

Blame the user. The misuser. The abuser. Don't blame the manufacturer.

 

[Illum]

Does anyone know or can estimate if the laser he used is 5mW or 200mW type? If it's 200mW then I'd blame the Chinese manufacturers for creating these kinda of products and have it sold to general public. Imagine some kids have it (took from his elder brothers?) and just pointing it randomly to people's eyes or some idiots pointing them at the planes (like this guy did) :sigh:. It should be banned from being mass produced in the first place :shakehead

There is no way to accurately tell power from looking at photos... a 5mw in heavy fog will easily look equivalent to a 50mw in clear mountain air. As to determining the power I don't think it would've mattered, a laser aimed at an aircraft is a violation regardless of its power.

Take care to note that not all 200+mws are created by china, in fact certain regulations are already banning the import of foreign lasers above 5mw

Whether it should be banned is a matter of politics once it gets down to personal preferences, and usually politics arent discussed in the public forum. Should you wish to voice your opinion I'd suggest posting another thread in the laser subforum and hopefully it'll bear a very productive discussion...or if you want to real dirt, check out the wine celler:thumbsup:

 

[alpg88]

Does anyone know or can estimate if the laser he used is 5mW or 200mW type? If it's 200mW then I'd blame the Chinese manufacturers for creating these kinda of products and have it sold to general public. Imagine some kids have it (took from his elder brothers?) and just pointing it randomly to people's eyes or some idiots pointing them at the planes (like this guy did) :sigh:. It should be banned from being mass produced in the first place :shakehead

sure , and ban forks and spoons too while you're at it, why not? they make ppl fat.

 

[dudu84]

EDITed: nvm, don't wanna go down the "politics" road

Take care to note that not all 200+mws are created by china, in fact certain regulations are already banning the import of foreign lasers above 5mw

But I do think the low price is the major reason for many ppl to buy it easily. I think if a 200mW costs ~$200-$300, people will still buy if they really need it (military? measurement equipments?) but the chance of it being misused is much lower

 

[dudu84]

sure , and ban forks and spoons too while you're at it, why not? they make ppl fat.

Do "most" people need to eat and the forks/spoons make this process easier for them? YES

Do "many" people have a legitimate reason for a high-powered laser? NO, probably a small number does. My point is invalid if that guy only used a 5mW laser because it is very useful for stuff like presentations (I used it a lot too)

 

[RyanA]

The point is not giving politicians permission to legislate away our rights because of the actions of a very small group of idiots.

 

[alpg88]

Do "many" people have a legitimate reason for a high-powered laser? NO, :

well the thing is it isn,t for you to decide, or even care, i don't have to have a need or legitimate reason to have something i want. it is called freedom.
do you have legitimate reason to post on any board? have a computer? tv? not according to your logic, can you live without it? yes. lets ban it too. you don't need it.

 

[Illum]

But I do think the low price is the major reason for many ppl to buy it easily. I think if a 200mW costs ~$200-$300, people will still buy if they really need it

For those that are rich enough and ambitious enough, neither price nor regulation is a concern. Its part of a mindset, once a product is acquired its illegitimate usefulness is then exploited, often for sake of personal entertainment.

Most of us amateur astronomers work with 5mw to 40mw greens...with at least one discontinued member owning a Hercules 500mw "for the heck of it"
What does he do with it when hes not stargazing? pointing a cell towers some for miles down range and supposedly "shot" down a couple birds:shakehead

 

[dudu84]

well the thing is it isn,t for you to decide, or even care, i don't have to have a need or legitimate reason to have something i want. it is called freedom.
do you have legitimate reason to post on any board? have a computer? tv? not according to your logic, can you live without it? yes. lets ban it too. you don't need it.

I believe that when living in a "society", what's so called "freedom" is never absolutely free (hence the laws and justice?).
Therefore, just as much as some people want their human rights to do whatever they want, the others want their rights to live peace, to be protected.

It's true that it's not for me to decide but "coincidentally", that "freedom" allows me to state my opinions just like you voiced yours.

As a matter of fact, I do care because I don't want myself/ my family/friends/pets(/flashlights?) to be in a situation where the aircraft carrying them just "happens" to have problem with landing (or any other immediate dangers) as some idiots are targeting it with their lasers.

And actually you missed my earlier point, things like forks/spoons/pcs/internet/.. are appropriate needs because they can increase the quality of people's lives in some ways (well, to more than just "some" people anyway), while a high-powered laser is only good for a small number of individuals.

Perhaps going through an engineering degree has significantly affected my points of view but my (Yes, "MY") rule #1 is: Safety always comes first.

 

[dudu84]

For those that are rich enough and ambitious enough, neither price nor regulation is a concern. Its part of a mindset, once a product is acquired its illegitimate usefulness is then exploited, often for sake of personal entertainment.

Most of us amateur astronomers work with 5mw to 40mw greens...with at least one discontinued member owning a Hercules 500mw "for the heck of it"
What does he do with it when hes not stargazing? pointing a cell towers some for miles down range and supposedly "shot" down a couple birds:shakehead

Thanks for pointing that out Illum. I think the higher price will probably help, for example:

Probability(who can afford pricey laser) x Probability(who is idiotic) << Probability(who can afford cheap laser) x Probability(who is idiotic)

Just for fun

 

[alpg88]

As a matter of fact, I do care because I don't want myself/ my family/friends/pets(/flashlights?) to be in a situation where the aircraft carrying them just "happens" to have problem with landing (or any other immediate dangers) as some idiots are targeting it with their lasers.

.

than outlaw and ban idiots, not lasers.

btw, you aren't the only one with engeenering degree, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand

 

[dudu84]

than outlaw and ban idiots, not lasers.

Just wondering, have you ever thought about banning thieves (or the like)?

btw, you aren't the only one wit engeenering degree, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand

Wit? I was very serious in that post and yes, my degree definitely influences my way of thinking. My entire argument on this matter is about safety