Laser pointer sale, use banned by Ocean City

The Ocean City, N.J., Council has adopted an ordinance banning the sale or possession of high-powered laser pointers in the Shore town.

The measure approved Thursday was prompted by an incident in which a man shined a laser at a Coast Guard helicopter last month.

Lasers pointed at cockpits can blind pilots and have caused aborted missions.

The ordinance outlaws the sale and possession of laser pointers that exceed one milliwatt of output. They're mostly green lasers, not the less-powerful red and yellow varieties.

First-time violators face a fine of $500. Subsequent violations could result in $1,000 fines, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

The problem of laser interference with aircraft has grown nationally. From 2009 to 2010, the number of incidents doubled to more than 2,800, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

In New Jersey, where, the FAA says, 182 incidents were reported last year, legislators have discussed a statewide ban on the sale of high-powered laser pointers. There are no federal regulations on their sales, and Ocean City is the first Shore town to take up the issue.