Saturday, January 30, 1999

Councilman wants to restrict laser pointers

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Winburn: Somebody is going to get killed

BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

All ABOUT LASER POINTERS

        Cincinnati Councilman Charles Winburn will formally introduce legislation Monday that would restrict laser pointers — less than a week after Hamilton city officials rejected a similar measure.

        Mr. Winburn's proposal would ban shining a laser device on a person or an animal with the express purpose of harassment. It also would ban the sale of laser pointers to those younger than 18, and direct shopkeepers to keep them out of reach.

        The plan is much stricter than the measure Hamilton City Council narrowly defeated Wednesday. That proposal, made by Hamilton Councilman George McNally, a former police chief, would have prohibited anyone from shining a laser pointer with intent “to harass or annoy.” It also would have forbidden the lights from being aimed at a police officer or at anyone's face or eyes.

        Several Hamilton officials think existing laws target the misuse of a laser pointer, which is often used as a lecture tool but in recent years has become a popular toy among young adults. That includes disorderly con duct laws.

        Most laser pointers emit safe, low-intensity beams. But the Food and Drug Administration has warned that prolonged exposure could damage vision. And the pointers could traumatize people who see the red dot come to rest on them — thinking they may be caught in the cross hairs of a laser-sighted weapon.

        “Somebody is going to get killed, shining one of these on the police officers,” Mr. Winburn said.

        Under the Winburn law, offenders would receive up to 30 days in jail and a maximum $250 fine.

        Asked whether this would duplicate any local or state laws, Mr. Winburn said: “There's none on the books. This is good public policy.”

        Across the country, communities such as Virginia Beach, Va., Westchester County, N.Y., and Ocean City, Md., have adopted such legisla tion. The Cincinnati school district is cracking down on laser pointers. Use in the classroom could be grounds for suspension.

        Mr. Winburn plans to formally introduce the measure in council's law and public safety legislative committee. But it could be weeks before council acts on the proposal.

        It was unclear late Friday whether Mr. Winburn had the five votes necessary to pass the law.

       

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