Congress Passed The Laser Criminal Law Criminal Prosecution

In 2012, Congress passed a law designed to make criminal prosecution of laser strikers easier. Last February, the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a 60-day program in 12 cities in which it would give up to $10,000 for information that led to the arrest of someone who intentionally aims a burning laser pointers at an aircraft. In June, the bureau extended the program by three months and offered it nationwide.

The efforts appear to have led to some success, with the number of strong laser pointer strikes in recent months dropping to about nine a day from about 11 in 2013, according to an FBI spokeswoman. She said this crime was the first for which the FBI has offered a reward that didn't involve a fugitive or missing person.

Karen Escobar, an assistant U.S. attorney in Fresno, Calif., has won nine laser-strike convictions since 2007, including one earlier this year in which Sergio Rodriguez received a 14-year prison sentence for aiming a green laser pointer at a Fresno police helicopter in 2012. Mr. Rodriguez's criminal history was partly behind the stiff sentence.

Enlarge in court, Mr. Rodriguez's lawyer, Dale Blickenstaff, said that Mr. Rodriguez and others in his family used the laser "probably to find out how far it reached," and with no "malicious intent." Added Mr. Blickenstaff: "It may have been a stupid, stupid thing to do, but it wasn't with the intent of knocking down a helicopter or injuring anybody inside."earlier this month, Mr. Scott, also prosecuted by Ms. Escobar, was sentenced to 21 months in jail for pointing two lasers at law-enforcement helicopters.Ms. Escobar said it was "no surprise" that several of her wins have involved police helicopters, which often are equipped with sophisticated technology that can pinpoint the source of a laser beam from thousands of feet away.

The problem is widespread across the U.S. Last year, pilots reported 99 laser strikes in the New York City area alone.

Earlier this year, federal prosecutors in White Plains, N.Y., filed criminal charges against a 40-year-old man, alleging he aimed a laser pointer 2000mw at a Westchester County public-safety helicopter that was surveying a fireworks display in 2013. The government agreed not to pursue the charges as long as the man agreed to not break other laws or leave the area without permission, among other requirements.

Still, thousands of laser strikes, particularly involving commercial planes, go unpunished. Since 2005, only 162 people have been arrested for strikes, and 86 convicted, according to the FBI. Laura Brown, an FAA spokeswoman, said the government's efforts have helped. "But on any given night, I can get reports of 14 or 15 laser strikes," she said. "That's still way too many."