New Legislation Could Mean Five Years In Prison

Police in Tulsa, OK arrested a man Monday for pointing a laser at a helicopter. Not just any helicopter, either. This one had cops in it.

The officers were in the air searching for an auto theft suspect. After being "painted" by police, that suspect fled. The helo followed the fleeing car until ground units were able to locate it, according to the Associated Press.

"During the search the helicopter was painted with a green laser," a police report says.

Zachary Carpenter was found at his residence with a high intensity green laser in his car and was promptly arrested, according to police.

Carpenter, 23, was arrested on complaints of "pointing a weapon/laser at police officer," eluding and traffic complaints, according to jail records.

As ANN reported, it doesn't matter if you are a terrorist or a prankster -- if you shine laser pointers at airplanes, you could be facing up to five years in prison.

Under legislation approved in May by the House of Representatives, the use of cheap, handheld laser pens "presents an imminent threat to aviation security and passenger safety," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) before the voice vote to approve the measure, according to the AP.

The National Transportation Safety Board has documented two cases where pilots sustained actual injury to their eyes and were incapacitated during critical phases of a flight.

FMI: www.tulsapolice.org, www.ntsb.gov