Don't Point Your Laser at an Airplane

CNN reported that yesterday, 11 commercial flights were targeted with laser pointers in New Jersey, both near Newark airport and in other parts of the state. Laser pointers have a place in a meeting room or lecture hall, perhaps, but that's about it. Pilots already have enough to worry about when they're attempting to land a jet with dozens or hundreds of passengers aboard, but a growing trend has helped laser pointers earn a top spot on the list of low-altitude hazards.

Those (otherwise benign) bright dot-shining contraptions can light up a cockpit and cause temporary blindness, which obviously interferes with a pilot's ability to perform duties, such as landing the plane. As of 2012, shining a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. That means jail time in a federal prison if convicted, and with greater awareness and an FAA program aimed at catching individuals who point lasers at airplanes, there's a good chance violating this law will indeed land you behind bars.

Learn more about the effects of laser pointers in the cockpit in the FAA video above.

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