Home
A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use
Australia: Perth man aims blue laser at police helicopter
14 May 2021 -- Categories: Aviation incidents | Arrests
A man in Perth aimed a blue laser beam at a Western Australia Police Force helicopter on May 13 2021.
The helicopter crew directed ground officers to a home where the 22-year-old was arrested. He was charged with causing fear or alarm with a laser or light to people in conveyances or others. The man faces a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to AUS $36,000 (USD $26,600).
From The Australian
Australia: 54-year-old arrested for aiming blue laser at police helicopter multiple times
A 56-year-old man was arrested for aiming a blue laser pointer four separate times at a police helicopter. The June 29 2018 incident took place in Oakford, an outer suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
The laser pointer was confiscated and the unnamed man was charged with “causing fear or alarm to the driver or pilot of a conveyance or others.” He will appear in court later in July 2018.
From Coastlive.com.au
The laser pointer was confiscated and the unnamed man was charged with “causing fear or alarm to the driver or pilot of a conveyance or others.” He will appear in court later in July 2018.
From Coastlive.com.au
Australia: After Perth laser helicopter illumination, police seize lasers, rifle, knives
23 Sep 2014 -- Categories: Aviation incidents | Confiscated
A police helicopter was “targeted by a green laser beam on numerous occasions” according to a spokesperson, as it flew over the Perth-area suburb of Beckenham on September 23 2014. The beam was traced back to a home in the East Victoria Park suburb.
At the home, police seized two green laser pointers, a rifle, and “several display knives.” There were no arrests as of the next day. Police said a 30-year-old man was assisting with their inquiries.
From the West Australian via Yahoo! News
At the home, police seized two green laser pointers, a rifle, and “several display knives.” There were no arrests as of the next day. Police said a 30-year-old man was assisting with their inquiries.
From the West Australian via Yahoo! News
Australia: Perth-area man fined AUS $2500 for multiple laser hits on police helicopter
A 51-year-old Perth-area man was fined AUS $2500 (USD $2350) on July 8 2014 for “causing fear or alarm with a laser”.
At about 11:30 pm on April 19 2014, Peter Allan McArthur of Parmelia aimed a green laser numerous times at a police helicopter. Ground officers found McArthur with two handheld lasers; he told the officers that he aimed at the aircraft “to see what happens”.
During trial, the police prosecutor said McArthur should face a jail sentence due to the potential hazard.
According to his lawyer, McArthur’s laser misuse “could have had serious consequences but he did not intend for anything like that to happen. He did not intend danger.”
The judge let McArthur off with the $2500 fine, plus $147 in court costs and his lasers would be destroyed. She said she took into account that McArthur pleaded guilty and had a minimal record.
From In My Community
At about 11:30 pm on April 19 2014, Peter Allan McArthur of Parmelia aimed a green laser numerous times at a police helicopter. Ground officers found McArthur with two handheld lasers; he told the officers that he aimed at the aircraft “to see what happens”.
During trial, the police prosecutor said McArthur should face a jail sentence due to the potential hazard.
According to his lawyer, McArthur’s laser misuse “could have had serious consequences but he did not intend for anything like that to happen. He did not intend danger.”
The judge let McArthur off with the $2500 fine, plus $147 in court costs and his lasers would be destroyed. She said she took into account that McArthur pleaded guilty and had a minimal record.
From In My Community
Australia: Perth-area man questioned for aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter
01 Jan 2014 -- Categories: Aviation incidents | Arrests
A 29-year-old man from the Perth-area suburb of Seville Grove, was questioned by police for repeatedly aiming a green laser pointer at a police helicopter early in the evening of December 31 2013.
The helicopter crew led ground officers to the man’s home. He will be summonsed for causing fear with a laser or light to people in conveyances.
From the West Australian
The helicopter crew led ground officers to the man’s home. He will be summonsed for causing fear with a laser or light to people in conveyances.
From the West Australian
Australia: Perth-area man hampers search by aiming laser twice at police helicopter
A search for a missing elderly person in a Perth suburb was disrupted when a police helicopter was twice hit by a laser pointer beam. At about 6:50 pm on September 6 2013, the aircraft was helping in the search when it was hit the first time. It left to do a different task, and came back about 40 minutes later. It was then hit again.
At the same time, several commercial aircraft in the same area reported being hit.
The helicopter directed ground officers to a property in Koondoola. They seized a laser pointer and charged a 36-year-old man with causing fear with laser or light to people in conveyances.
From 7 News and the Herald Sun
At the same time, several commercial aircraft in the same area reported being hit.
The helicopter directed ground officers to a property in Koondoola. They seized a laser pointer and charged a 36-year-old man with causing fear with laser or light to people in conveyances.
From 7 News and the Herald Sun
Australia: $10,000 fine after Woodvale man aims laser at police helicopter
Christopher Manning, 40, was fined AUS $10,000 (USD $9,140) on September 4 2013, for causing fear with a laser or light.
On August 3 2013, a police helicopter was conducting a search in the Perth suburb of Woodvale when it was hit a number of times by a bright green laser light. The pilot had “immediate distress” and took evasive action. Ground officers arrested Manning at his home in Woodvale, and seized the laser. He was later found guilty in Joondalup magistrates court.
From WAtoday.com.au: Original Aug 3 incident; Sept 5 fine
On August 3 2013, a police helicopter was conducting a search in the Perth suburb of Woodvale when it was hit a number of times by a bright green laser light. The pilot had “immediate distress” and took evasive action. Ground officers arrested Manning at his home in Woodvale, and seized the laser. He was later found guilty in Joondalup magistrates court.
From WAtoday.com.au: Original Aug 3 incident; Sept 5 fine
Australia: Perth-area man hits police helicopter multiple times, is arrested
07 Aug 2013 -- Categories: Aviation incidents | Arrests
A 40-year-old man from the Woodvale area of Perth was arrested August 3 2013 for the offense of using a portable device to direct a visible lasers at or near a conveyance. The Western Australia police helicopter was patrolling Woodvale at about 10 pm. It was hit several times with a laser light. About five minutes later it was hit again. A forward-looking infrared camera was used to locate the unnamed suspect.
From the Daily Telegraph and WA Today
From the Daily Telegraph and WA Today
Australia: $20,000 fine for Perth-area couple who aimed laser at police helicopter
02 Nov 2012 -- Categories: Aviation incidents | Fines & Jail | Eye effect or injury | Did not realize hazard
A couple from the Perth suburb of Port Kennedy were fined AUS $10,000 each on October 25 2012, for lasing a Rockingham Police helicopter. The two were charged with causing fear with an object or substance to people in conveyances or others.
On July 20 2012, the Polair 61 helicopter was patrolling when it was hit by the laser beam. The pilot took evasive action. The crew was able to identify the source. Ground crews arrested 29-year-old Patricia Giguere and 31-year-old Clemens Trauttmansdorff. They first denied having a laser, then eventually surrendered to police.
On July 20 2012, the Polair 61 helicopter was patrolling when it was hit by the laser beam. The pilot took evasive action. The crew was able to identify the source. Ground crews arrested 29-year-old Patricia Giguere and 31-year-old Clemens Trauttmansdorff. They first denied having a laser, then eventually surrendered to police.
Patricia Giguere demonstrates how she aimed the laser from her porch
In an interview, Giguere said she and Trauttmansdorff had bought the laser in Bali. They did not think the beam could reach the helicopter. Giguere was in Australia on a partner provisional visa. She said the conviction could jeopardize her chances of staying in the country.
News reports gave conflicting information on the frequency of laser incidents in the area. A Police Air Wing pilot said “laser attacks took place at least twice a week, and sometimes up to five times a night.” However, the Rockingham Police officer-in-charge said laser incidents “don’t happen very often.”
From the West Australian and InMyCommunity.com