Australian laser laws - what is the latest news???

[ixfd64]

I'm pretty sure that the ban only applies to laser pointers. This means that non-portable lasers could still be imported. It may also be possible to import laser pointers if you declare them as OEM equipment.

If all lasers were banned, how else would Aussies get DVD burners?

 

[Pila_Power]

Hey with the helicopters out of the sky thing...

In Perth we have the first non military police force air support (Helis) in Australia to be equipped with night vision equipment.

Now, I am not Einstein or anything but I'd guess, even with a weak laser beam, when using night vision gear (MIL spec at that) it'd give you one heck of a headache and retina burn.

On the news night before last I watched them training with the flip down equipment on and they showed the difference between with and without the gear on, and to show how sensitive it is, they had a target dude on the ground in a forrest waving his mobile phone around and WOW it was bright from way up!!

Anyway, my point is that with night vision - which police air wing pilots WILL be using from now on - anybody aiming a laser at them is now MORE likely to do some serious injury.

I hope they take laser offenders to the cleaners and then some personally. The offenders have just ruined it for everyone.

 

[picrthis]

I guess they'll ban 200 lumen flashlights next then.

 

[AJ_Dual]

Anyway, my point is that with night vision - which police air wing pilots WILL be using from now on - anybody aiming a laser at them is now MORE likely to do some serious injury.

Someone with a laser or other high intensity light source could certianly blind the night vision DEVICE, but not the WEARER. The phosphor screens can't go beyond their maximum driven brightness which would still be eye-safe. It would be irritating, it would make the NVD's useless while they were illuminated, and it would rob the wearer of his night-vision for a while, but it would not be eye-dangerous. It might be dangerous in terms of navigation, or the wearer's ability to function of course.

The analogy would be like pointing a video camera into the sun, then watching the image on a TV. The TV can't produce the sun's brightness, it just washes out white as bright as it can go, which is still eye safe.

And most modern third-fourth generation NVD's that police and military can afford have automatic cut outs, or even better, just make a black spot over the source of the overload in the image so you can still see the rest of the view.

 

[Pila_Power]

Awesome AJ - I just learnt something!! Thanks!!

I guess a 200 lumen f/l being banned would be a bit dumb though. It would make a great locating beacon out in the wild.

 

[Mgz]

So far handheld lasers haven't killed a single person or caused a single plane crash.

why they are at it, BAN ALL KNIFE too!!

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...0608/tokyo_stabbing_080608/20080608?hub=World

clearly knife is more dangerous than a laser pointer.

 

[gollum]

actually.... not long ago (9 months or so)
our politicians nearly sneaked in a law to ban all knives for import
...what a ridiculous concept :shakehead
this was an attempt to reduce youth crime in cities
luckily the knifemaking community averted this law by forcing the matter to court for a hearing thus preventing the law from slipping in.
I remember many years ago our politicians actually wanted to make motorbike riders wear seatbelts ...

I ordered a 50mw green laser 2 weeks ago from dx
I am not planning on flashing any pilots though...
I believe this is another knee jerk reaction by the politicians to justify their existence...I really don't think there is any common sense involved here.


just my 2c

 

[badhorsey]

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23837208-5014108,00.html

Have our media ever not been sensationalist idiots?

It's fair to say that tabloid journalism is not a career that requires a solid grounding in coherent optics...

 

[luvlasers]

What bugs me about this kind of law is basically not necessary and it will not work. Yet it uses so much resources that could have been applied for problems that are really serious such as the import of drugs, real weapons, indentured/slave prostitutes etc etc

 

[gollum]

dx hasn't shipped my laser to me yet ,so I guess I'll have to hope that customs will not realise what it is....otherwise I'll not be getting it ....

 

[luvlasers]

According to Australian customs, there is now a maximum fine for importing lasers of $100 000

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/LaserPointers.pdf

At least in the US, the worst that can happen is that customs will confiscate your expensive laser

 

[Flashanator]

This is absolutely pathetic, I cant believe our laws. :shakehead


garrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[lctorana]

I put in a DX order some time back, and it just arrived today. Took weeks to arrive, despite HK postal evidence at the Hong Kong end.

The reason? Held up for inspection at Australian Customs, who found nothing untoward and let it get posted. All fine, of course.

But London to a brick they were looking for lasers.

 

[AvPD]

According to Australian customs, there is now a maximum fine for importing lasers of $100 000

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/LaserPointers.pdf

At least in the US, the worst that can happen is that customs will confiscate your expensive laser

The authorities like to enforce the rules through fines or the threat of fines. I bet you can't get fined for not wearing a seatbelt in the US too.