UK government "considers laser pen license" - No, really.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40907694

Buying powerful laser pens could require a licence in future, the government has said, amid concerns over the number of attacks on aircraft.

Ministers say they could also bring in new measures to license retailers and restrict advertising after warnings about the risks to pilots and planes.

The government said it wanted to find "the best way to protect the public".

Last year, 1,258 incidents of lasers being shone at aircraft were recorded by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority.

This week, Spanish police said a British man and his son had pointed a laser at an airliner over the Costa del Sol.

Earlier this year, the government said it would introduce a new law meaning people who deliberately shone lasers at aircraft could face larger fines or even a jail sentence.

However, the proposal was dropped from the government's legislative programme after June's general election.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now launched an eight-week consultation on the issue.

Business Minister Margot James said: "Public safety is of the utmost importance and we must look carefully to make sure regulations are keeping up with the increased use of these devices.

She added: "Used irresponsibly or maliciously, these products can and do wreak havoc and harm others, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

"That's why we want to hear from business groups, retailers and consumers about the best way to protect the public from this kind of dangerous behaviour and improve safety."

Licensing schemes already exist in countries such as Australia, Canada and the US.

In the UK, shining lasers at aircraft can incur a fine of up to £2,500.

Spanish pilots 'dazzled'
Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association, said shining lasers into the eyes of a pilot at a critical stage of a flight "has the potential to cause a crash and loss of life".

"There is also a growing concern that, as the power of available lasers increases, the possibility of permanent damage being caused to pilots' and passengers' eyes increases," he added.

Three pilots reported being dazzled during the incident in Spain.

If found guilty, the two British holidaymakers could face a fine ranging from €30,001 (£27,280; $35,425) to €600,000 for endangering flight safety.

Something something nanny state.

 

[millais]

It's good that they are taking a proactive stance on LASER POINTERS OF PEACE.

 

[ICametoLurk]

Bin that laser or get the taser.

 

[Nat Soc Justice Warrior]

I don't know why they don't just ban the sale of high powered laser pointers anyway rather than waste time on a pointless and costly licencing scheme. There's nothing a high powered one can do in legitimate usage that a lower powered one can't do.

None of the scrotes shining them at planes will by then from anywhere likely to check for a licence anyway. They'll just get them from chinks on eBay or aliexpress.

 

[ICametoLurk]

I don't know why they don't just ban the sale of high powered laser pointers anyway rather than waste time on a pointless and costly licencing scheme.

It's part of their goal to make every Englishman's wallet look like this

Next they will make it so that they need a license to have a license.

 

[Captain_Asshole]

 

[Hyperion]

Laser pointers are great for presentations! Since I love our British friends so much you can use this as your first slide, free of charge!

Spoiler: What happened guys?

 

[Admiral Piett]

Laser pen's are great.

Spoiler: Story time

A bit of a powerlevel, but back in high school we went on foreign exchange to Europe, where there were all these people selling cheap laser pen's on the street. The dickhead kids in the exchange brought them, for real cheap and would fuck around with them. They'd do autistic raves and try to make glow lamps out of them.

But, they did have their purpose. One of the best times I had on that trip, was one night when I was stuck in a hostel room with them. In the middle of the night, they began to shine the pen light across the hostel courtyard. There was one window there, with some guy, who was probably smoking or something. When he noticed the pen, and ducked for cover, probably thinking it was a sniper dot.

Since the windows were raised, and he was sitting on the still, he would have fallen a good two feet, to a cold wood floor. Best part was when he began knocking around the doors on our floor at two in the morning and pissing off this group of Americans.

 

[El Garbage]

I don't know why they don't just ban the sale of high powered laser pointers anyway

Pointers more powerful than 1 milliwatt are already illegal.

Controlling the import of higher-power lasers is almost impossible, many people don't even know they're buying illegal stuff. The licencing scheme is probably an attempt to generally eliminate lasers with the "too much of a hassle" method.

 

[AN/ALR56]

Those are a problem here, usually there's some police helicopters patrols around airports and they order cars into the exact spot so that they can beat down those autists with nightsticks.

 

[AnOminous]

You can have my ridiculously overpowered laser pointer that sets the wallpaper on fire when you pry it from my cold, dead hands, you Europoor weakling faggots!

 

[Coldgrip]

People still give a shit about laser pens?

 

[Trilby]

People still give a shit about laser pens?

They're sold for a buck around my area, so someone's bothering with 'em.