And also the price is not a good indication for the power output. He bought the majority of the lasers for less than 20 Australian dollars. However, the most expensive at over AU$80 was a surprise. “It was the only one in the entire sample that worked as intended and met laser safety standards,” he says. If it is determined that you have a laser pointer in your possession without reasonable excuse, you could be fined up to $5,500 or up to 2 years in prison. To be eligible for this permit, you must have a real reason to own and use a laser pointer (such as a teacher or builder). Some amateur astronomers and small observatories have similar laser pointers that are permanently attached to telescopes, although they are not always used. Although they are not technically portable laser pointers, they should be used with similar safety guidelines in mind. And his conclusion is sobering.

He says few laser pointers meet their advertised specs and far exceed the 1mW power they`re supposed to stay below. “Suppliers in this market have learned to circumvent the ban,” he says. Laser pointers are prescribed as a prohibited weapon in the Victoria Arms Control Regulations, 2000. Specifically, the controller prohibits “a portable battery-powered element commonly referred to as a `laser pointer`, designed or adapted for the emission of a laser beam with an accessible emission limit of more than 1 mW.” Persons with a legitimate reason to possess such a laser pointer must apply for a licence from the Victorian Police. Unfortunately, most Wicked lasers are well above the 1 mW limit allowed for prohibited weapons. This makes it illegal to import them into Australia unless you have a permit to import weapons from the Australian government`s List 13. In addition, it is not uncommon for the windows of an aircraft cockpit to amplify laser light, which can seriously harm others on board. You will need this approval if you intend to own and use a laser pointer larger than 1 milliwatt. A laser pointer refers to a portable battery-powered device that is designed or adapted to emit a laser beam that can be used to aim, aim, or straighten.

Note: It is the responsibility of any person using a laser pointer to confirm that its use or possession is authorized by the relevant part of the law. The Astronomical Society of South Australia does not guarantee the legality of using a laser pointer in South Australia. If you use a laser pointer in other states, astronomers are advised to seek on-site advice before using a laser pointer. Similarly, various laser measuring or leveling devices used in the construction industry should not be affected, as they are not “pointers”. In addition, they are not held in the hand during use and are therefore not “hand pointers”. The risk of a laser pointer is also often expressed by the “class” of the laser pointer, although the definition is somewhat complicated and class definitions have changed in recent years. At one end of the scale, Class 1 laser pointers are safe for normal viewing. Eye damage caused by looking directly at the beam of a Class 2 laser pointer is usually avoided by the blinking reaction. Class 3 laser pointers can damage an eye before it has time to blink and can cause eye injuries, especially in the hands of a careless or untrained operator. Class 4 lasers are even more dangerous devices with higher power.

The first part of the fine print is quite easy to paste – just buy a laser pointer of 1 mW or less. Many people have been in trouble because of the use of laser pointers in Australia, which begs the question: are laser pointers legal in Australia? The quick answer is yes! A portable battery-powered laser pointer is legal to own. For laser pointers with a power greater than 1 mW, you need a permit. The requirements depend on the state or territory you live in, so we recommend contacting your local police department for advice. According to NSW police, PolAir 1 was flying over Kingswood around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, when a “green laser was pointed several times in the fixed-wing plane.” To assist police or other law enforcement agencies, astronomers must carry with them proof of their current membership in an astronomical society at all times if the laser pointer is in their possession. A: You can own such a laser pointer. However, recent amendments to the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 require the issuance of a licence (or the possibility that the person may be entitled to an exemption) if the laser pointer exceeds one milliwatt. Regardless of milliwatts, no laser pointer may be worn or used in a public place without reasonable excuse. “NSW has by far the most robust laws for laser pointers in the country” If you want to import a laser pointer with a power greater than 1 mW, you must apply using Form B710 or the Application for Authorization to Import Weapons from List 13.

This authorisation is valid for importation and is normally valid for six months after its issue. In the United Kingdom, for example, law enforcement used infrared imaging cameras to identify the location of laser pointers pointed at the sky so that the perpetrator could be caught on the ground by officers. Earlier this year, the 22-year-old was given a five-month suspended prison sentence for recklessly endangering the lives of a police search helicopter crew. Wheatley found his goals by typing the phrase “1 mW laser pointer” into online shopping sites such as Google.com.au and eBay.com.au. In theory, these websites should obey Australian law because of their .com.au designation. Laser devices used for medical purposes are unlikely to fall within this definition. In any case, a surgeon would be able to designate his profession as a reasonable excuse to own a laser pointer in a public place, To import a laser pointer larger than 1mW, you must follow these steps: and if you want to import laser pointers with powers of more than 1mW, you must also obtain an import permit, before ordering from abroad.