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Increasing laser pointer attacks have Havasus ferry captains concerned.

The ferry between Lake Havasu City and Havasu Landing has been struck three times by green laser pointers in the past month, from locations including Windsor Beach, Crazy Horse Campground and from further within mainland Havasu. When directed into the pilots cabin, these lasers can cause temporary blindness or difficulty seeing, according to ferry Captain Greg Erkes. Laser pointers can put the crew, the ship and its passengers in jeopardy.

It can blind someone if its intense enough, Erkes said. We run our ships at night with the lights off so we can see other lights on the water. If (laser pointer owners) are doing it intentionally, then its malicious.

In Arizona, deliberately shining a laser-pointer at another person in such a way that requires medical treatment qualifies as an act of misdemeanor assault, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Ferries arent the only recent targets of laser pointers, and the devices have proven a constant hazard for aircraft pilots as well.

Havasu-based Air Methods operates emergency medical helicopters throughout the state, and serves Havasu Regional Medical Center. While laser flashes are more common in major cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, they are still a threat.

Pilots have been warned, dont look at them, said Air Methods spokeswoman Karey Madsen. One past crew member got hit in the eye with a lasershe was out for a while. It can cause eye damage, and it can be a distraction for the pilot. It could definitely put crews and patients in jeopardy. If a pilot cant see, they cant land or maneuver the aircraft.

Deliberately aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony in Arizona, punishable by a prison sentence up to 18 months. Federal penalties for doing so include a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

Read more:
Laser pointer 'attacks' are putting boaters, pilots at risk of temporary blindness - Today's News-Herald

This entry was posted on May 12, 2017 at 2:42 am and is filed under Blindness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |