Yesterday the NSW government passed legislation making it possible for police to search anyone the believe may be carrying a laser pointer, and unless you have it for a legitimate reason (you’re a teacher, an architect or a bounty hunter something similar), you could face fines of up to $5,000.
What’s more, class three and four laser pointers are now classified as prohibited weapons, and if you’re found with one of those babies, you could be rattling chains in your very own orange jumpsuit for up to 14 years.
The crackdown has happened because of a recent spate of jackasses pointing the lasers at commercial aeroplanes. As the NSW Premiere, Morris Iemma put it:
“It only takes a fraction of a second for a pilot to become
temporarily blinded and that could have catastrophic consequences.”
Every gadget nut knows that lasers can be fun. But there’s nothing fun about potentially bringing down a 747 (or any other flying vehicle, for that matter). If you know one of the assholes doing this (or you’re doing it yourself), give them (or yourself) a swift punch to the crotch for being so stupid.
[SMH]