By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Aim a laser at an aircraft and you will face serious consequences, the FBI warned.
The Clarion-Ledger reports that the FBI’s Jackson Field Office recently investigated a laser pointer attack.
“It’s actually a quite serious federal crime, and we want to message that concern to raise awareness, but if that awareness campaign doesn’t work, we do have law enforcement and judicial outcomes up to five years in federal prison and an $11,000 fine,” said Jackson Field Office Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway.
The FBI has seen a more than 1,100% spike in people targeting aircraft with lasers since the bureau began keeping statistics in 2005. In 2015, there were 7,703 FAA-reported laser incidents.
“What can happen is that we think of a very small pinpoint size beam of light, but it spreads out and can cover several feet in diameter,” Alway said.
