Aussie green laser pointer ban

The Victorian Government has already banned green laser pointers over 1mw unless you apply for a permit, costing $180, much more than the price of the green laser pointer itself. It's likely that other states in Australia will follow suit, if they haven't already.

An exception should be made for amateur astronomers. $180 is too much for a license. An exception could easily have been arranged whereby a token fee would be charged and requiring a letter of recommendation. If the fee was $20 people might actually get a license...

You appreciate 30mw if you use them in cities to get around the light pollution and lack of dark adaption at sidewalk type events. You can `get away` with 5mw, thats all I have anyway!

It is already illegal everywhere to interfere with aircraft and people can be prosecuted under that law for pointing a laser at a plane. So I'm not sure of the point of this law. Seems a bit like banning knives eventhough its already illegal to stab someone.

It will probably get worse after this happened over Sidney last week.

www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/24/sydney_son_et_lumiere/

It will probably get worse after this happened over Sidney last week.

www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/24/sydney_son_et_lumiere/

Jeebus ... that's terrible. When you see crap like this you can understand the need for legislation. However, I think the Ozzies have gone too far.

Bart.

Guys,

I am also thinking of getting such a unit. Can I get a suggested model (mW) for sub-urban skies and a representative price? Also, can these lasers be powered by the typical LIDL 12v batteries which have outlets for 3v, 6v, 9v and 12v? I have read somewhere that they can take up to 3v and it would be nice to use such rechargeable batteries.

Thanks!

I've read about these green laser pens and dont understand the problem.

Just how far does the beam reach?

If i was using one at ground level and showing someone where a star or planet was...............SURELY it would not reach that far.

I'm THINKING the beam reaches 30,000 ft.........which is why airline companies are complaining about them.

I have a laser pen keyring i bought in the Canarie's and it has a range of about 1/2 a mile.

I'm thinking i will buy a green laser pointer so i can piss off cats.......about 3 miles away...........................JUST FOR FUN.

The problem is really only for planes coming into land and for helicopters. The green laser pens used by astronomers are lot more powerful than the regular red ones you'd use for a powerpoint presentation etc.