Politics & Government

It's the Law: Some Laser Pointers Now Banned in Ocean City

City Council passes an ordinance banning the possession and sale of powerful laser pointers in Ocean City.

City Council unanimously and without discussion voted on Thursday night to ban laser pointers in Ocean City.

Council passed the second and final reading of an ordinance that prohibits the possession or sale of any laser pointer that exceeds one milliwatt in output power. Council passed the first reading on June 23.

The devices are designed to point at screens in office presentations or at stars during astronomy studies—but in Ocean City, the laser pointers have been directed at pilots flying planes, motorists driving cars, visitors riding Ferris wheels and even people sitting in their homes.

Find out what's happening in Ocean Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A  June 7 for directing a laser pointer at a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and boat on a night training mission. Ocean City police took a radio call from the boat two miles offshore and were able to arrest the man while he was still beaming his laser from the Ocean City Boardwalk.

There were eight similar incidents of aircraft harassment last summer directly tied to Ocean City, according to reported incidents to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Find out what's happening in Ocean Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Even the small laser pointers that are sold to the general public, when pointed at an aircraft, can have serious and disastrous effects on a pilots’ vision," the Coast Guard said in a news release after the June arrest. "There is a significant risk to flight safety, especially for helicopters working low altitudes and aircraft taking off or landing. If any aircrew member’s vision is compromised during a flight, Coast Guard flight rules dictate that the aircraft must abort their mission. Laser pointers can cause the pilot to see a glare, afterimage, have flash blindness or can even cause temporary loss of night vision."

Ocean City residents have said that the  as they drive their cars, sit in their hotel rooms, ride Boardwalk amusements and walk their dogs.

The sale of less powerful red and yellow lasers are common in Boardwalk shops. At least one Boardwalk merchant is still selling the more powerful green laser pointer—the type that would be encompassed by the new ban. The green lasers can permanently damage vision.

The new ordinance calls for a fine not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 along with up to 30 days in jail for a second offense.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here