November 11, 2013-USA Reports of people aiming
laser pointers at airplanes landing in the New York City area are up 17 percent
compared with last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Friday as
it sought information on a spate of recent incidents.
There have been 75 such
episodes so far this year, an F.B.I. spokesman said, compared with 64 during
the same period in 2012.
The two most recent ones
happened on Tuesday, the F.B.I. said in a statement, when planes landing at La
Guardia Airport were targeted from the Bronx and Queens. Though neither
instance resulted in injuries, the statement said, “several commercial pilots
earlier this year suffered significant injury, including a burnt retina.” No
arrests have been made in either case, but a reward has been offered for
information.
In 2012, the last complete
year for which figures are available, lasers were pointed at planes across
America 3,482 times, nearly 10 times per night, according to the Web site
Laserpointersafety.com, which tracks such incidents. There were 283 incidents
in 2005, according to the F.B.I.
Pointing a laser at a plane
was made a federal crime in 2012. If convicted, offenders face up to five years
in prison or a fine.
This year, a California man
was sentenced to 30 months after pointing a laser at a private jet and at a
police helicopter sent to investigate the source of the light.
LaserTo, kindly advice all of laser pointer users, laser pointer is a helpful tool, never make is a hazard.
DON'T point at person's eyes, animals, vehicles, airplanes etc.
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