By The Associated Press
January 26, 2011
An Illinois legislator who is also a pilot says the Illinois General Assembly should create a state criminal charge to lodge against people who aim laser pointers at aircraft.
Republican State Rep. Dave Winters is from the Winnebago County town of Shirland. He tells the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald there isn’t enough protection against an offense that can temporarily blind pilots on approach or takeoff and could possibly cause a crash.
The lasers commonly used are green and have a range of several miles.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the number of such incidents more than doubled last year. It also says O’Hare International Airport reported the second-most incidents in the country last year. O’Hare reported 98 incidents last year, out of 2,836 total in the U.S.
Source: BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL PANTAGRAPH
Date: 2011-01-26