News Release
For Immediate Release
November 20, 2001
 

Judiciary Committee Moves Laser Pointer Bill

HARRISBURG –Legislation offered by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery/Bucks, would establish a criminal offense for knowingly using a laser pointer to harass, annoy or alarm another person.

Greenleaf said the crime would be a summary offense, unless a laser pointer is directed at a police officer. In that case, the crime would be a misdemeanor.

"To some, this may seem a trivial concern, but there can be very serious consequences when these instruments are misused," Greenleaf said. He noted that he has heard from police officers who thought that they were actually being targeted by a laser sight on a rifle when a laser light was directed at them. "This is an instance in which a prank could lead a police officer to fire in the direction of the pointer with fatal results."

Additionally, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has indicated that it is possible that retinal damage might result from staring at a laser beam for more than 10 seconds. And, the Food and Drug Administration requires that laser pointers have warning labels, cautioning against shining them into anyone’s eyes.

Directing the beam of a pointer into the eyes of someone operating a car, or other machinery such as amusement park rides, could pose serious risk to the public. "There have been enough reports of problems to warrant taking action," Greenleaf said.