Laser Penalties
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it will begin imposing civil penalties against people who shine lasers into aircraft cockpits.
“Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said. “These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft, jeopardizing the safety of the passengers and people on the ground.”
The FAA said it was acting in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations — in particular, with one provision that prohibits interfering with flight crewmembers operating an aircraft. The FAA previously has cited the regulation in cases involving passengers interfering with crewmembers performing their duties. The maximum penalty is $11,000 per violation.
“Today’s interpretation reflects the fact that pointing a laser at an aircraft from the ground could seriously impair a pilot’s vision and interfere with the flight crew’s ability …
