Laser Pointers Aimed at Sheriff's Aircraft Earn Arrests

Los Angeles County Sheriff's are warning that aiming laser pointers at aircrafts can come with steep penalties.

In a statement issued this week, Sheriff's said six laser pointer incidents have been reported by department helicopter pilots in the past seven months. The crime can result in up to three years in state prison and a fine of $2,000 or up to 20 years in Federal prison if deemed a Federal offense.

The most recent incident occurred on April 26, when Pico Rivera Sheriff's arrested a 16-year-old Los Alamitos resident after locating a car that had reportedly been pointing a laser at a Sheriff's helicopter.

In December of 2011, a La Puente man was arrested by Industry Sheriff's deputies for a similar offense, and in January of 2011 another arrest was made in the West Covina area.

Sheriff's officials said such use of laser pointers can distract pilots and cause them to lose control of the aircraft.

"When the laser hits the plexiglass windshield, it refracts the light and fills the cockpit with laser light, causing disorientaiton or temporary blindness," Sergeant Morrie Zager, a helicopter pilot assigned to Sheriff's Aero Bureau, said. "It has caused long term damage to some pilots."

Sheriff's officials also said that previous incidents have forced pilots to land, cancel landings, or take evasive action that disrupted the work of the Aero Bureau.

According to statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration, the number of total laser pointer incidents has increased from 1,527 in 2009 to 2,836 in 2010.

“The FAA is actively warning people not to point high-powered lasers at aircraft because they can damage a pilot’s eyes or cause temporary blindness,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said. “We continue to ask pilots to immediately report laser events to air traffic controllers so we can contact local law enforcement officials.”

Sheriff's are asking that anyone witnessing a laser pointer being directed at any aircraft immediately call 9-1-1 to report the incident.

To submit anonymous tips, contact “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.