Greater punishment for laser offenders

UNLIMITED fines could be imposed on people convicted of shining a laser at aircraft, cars or ships under new laws unveiled by the Government.

Ministers are also proposing to hit people who target modes of transport with laser devices with jail sentences of up to five years.

Currently, it is only an offence to target a plane with a laser but under draft laws published by the Department for Transport the list of protected vehicles will be expanded. If agreed, trains, buses, boats and even hovercraft pilots will be among those protected.

Reckless use of lasers has been of increasing concern for transport bosses with the Civil Aviation Authority having registered 1,258 incidents in the last year alone, with Heathrow the most frequent location for reports.

People who shine a laser at an aircraft can face a fine of £2,500 but only those offenders who can be proven to have shown an intention to endanger a plane can face jail. The Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Bill will make it easier to prosecute offenders by removing the need to prove such an intention.

Baroness Sugg, the aviation minister, said: “Lasers can dazzle, distract or blind those in control of a vehicle, with serious and potentially even fatal consequences. The Government is determined to protect pilots, captains, drivers and their passengers.”