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Man gets 14 years for ‘lasing’ helicopter
- Mithaldu 13y agoImportant bit: Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence.
- tehwebguy 13y agoAnyone know how these guys get caught?
- revelation 13y agoRest assured, it is not a smart idea to shine a concentrated light source at a helicopter equipped with technology to track persons and cars day and night. This video shows the "cockpit view": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74VeecMWWN0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74VeecMWWN0
- jread 13y agoI've had this happen while flying military helicopters at night. We usually get a grid or address, and report it when we land.
- PhasmaFelis 13y agoI realize I'm probably supposed to be outraged about this. Helicopters are complex, unstable, low-flying machines that require active awareness from the pilot. This person put multiple lives at risk because he thought it was funny. I have very little sympathy.
- Retric 13y agoExcept people that actually kill others often end up with shorter prison terms. Note, the Judge understood the only risk was "distracting" the pilots but the tax payers still need to spend $30,600 per year to keep this fellow behind bars... really?
- Turing_Machine 13y agoHe did it at least twice. If people are only getting 7 years for murder, then that's a problem in its own right.
- Retric 13y agoMurder is a somewhat vague term in common speech. But, yea people are getting 7 years or less for 'Murder'. Not that I really think someone's behavior really changes based on a 5 year prison sentence vs a 20 year one. http://www.madd.org/laws/law-overview/Vehicular_Homicide_Overview.pdf http://www.madd.org/laws/law-overview/Vehicular_Homicide_Ove... This document covers statutes providing for penalties to be brought against a drunk driver who kills another person through the operation of a motor vehicle, either intentionally or negligently. Delaware: First degree: death caused by criminally negligent driving while DWI is a Class E felony. Not less than 2 years or more than 5 years. Second degree: death caused by criminally negligent driving or negligent driving while DWI is a Class F felony. Not less than 1 year or more than 3 years. However I was really more comparing it to Kansas: Death caused by operation of a vehicle in a manner that causes unreasonable risk and which constitutes a material deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would observe under the same circumstances Class A Personal Misdemeanor. Not more than 1 year and not more than $2,500
- Turing_Machine 13y agoYou've cherrypicked one. Most of the others allow for at least ten years, and some as much as 30. Also, "negligent" isn't the same thing as "intentional".
- Retric 13y agoI don't think cherry picking really apply's when there is a full state where everyone get's less. My point was more that large numbers of people get less than 14 years for actually killing people. As to the murder angle the minim sentience for second degree murder in Illinois is 4 years. Mitigated Deliberate Homicide in Montana goes as low as 2! years. So, while I have no problem saying this might be as bad as drunk driving even though the actual risks are lower I really do see a problem comparing negligible potential risks vs actual harm.
- batguano 13y ago> I realize I'm probably supposed to be outraged about this. As the person who posted the link to HN, I posted because there have been other discussions of "lasing" here. If you mean "outraged at the 14 year sentence," I didn't expect people to be outraged by that. Given previous discussions, I expected people to be glad to see it was taken seriously.
- InclinedPlane 13y ago14 years is probably too much, but I have no problem with hefty jail time for someone who does this. Attempting to blind a pilot is very serious and puts lives in danger.
- tommu 13y agoIs attempted blinding really the intention? They should be locked up for overestimating the power of laser pointers if nothing more. I keep reading 'attempted murder' too. Hyperbolic nonsense. Shooting at a plane maybe but shining a light - give me a break!
- res0nat0r 13y agoAnyone who is shining a laser at a plane knows that it is dangerous and can impair the pilot, if not they will find out how dangerous it is at their sentencing hearing. Stupidity doesn't absolve you from putting someone elses life at risk.
- jetru 13y agoI disagree. Stupidity does absolve people to some extent. Intent to harm is extremely important. Would you jail a 2 year old who stabbed someone with a knife because they the poor kid didn't know what they were doing? If someone crashed into someone in a road accident(read "accident", they just fucked up, it happens), how would they like 14 years in prison? Do soldiers get imprisoned when they willingly murder innocent civilians abroad if they get in the way? I can't accept "if not they will find out how dangerous it is at their sentencing hearing". WTF? We can surely do better than that. This isn't North Korea. I can't comment on the intents of this dude with the 14 year charge, though.
- res0nat0r 13y agoThis story isn't an accident, or a 2 year old. It is someone knowing what he is doing and knowing it is dangerous.
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- aunty_helen 13y agoGreat success. You have to ask yourself what possesses people to shine a laser at an aircraft. It's just a shame this article contains my most hated word: 'Lasing' or Light Amplification by Stimulated-ing
- Turing_Machine 13y agoGood. I like pranks, but this crap goes way beyond "prank" and gets close to "attempted murder".
- fragsworth 13y agoNot really. Apparently it's not all that dangerous to shine a laser into a helicopter, because rather than attempt to escape and control his vehicle, the pilot was able to catch the offender by staying in flight and locating him by following the source of the light. This allowed ground personnel to come in and arrest the offender. It's conceivable that it could be dangerous if it happens at a very inopportune time for a pilot. So far, though, nobody's ever died from laser pointers shined at cockpits.
- tptacek 13y agoCan I ask if you've piloted many aircraft that had lasers aimed at their cockpits from the ground?
- fragsworth 13y agoNo, but that's pretty blatant "ad hominem" isn't it?
- aaronbrethorst 13y agoArguably two counts of attempted murder, plus the distinct possibility of additional injury on the ground? Sounds about right to me.
- quackerhacker 13y agoI wonder if "lasing," people's cars as they drive would cause the same types of ramifications. Seems very likely, and even more dangerous than "lasing," a pilot (a highly trained individual). I consider most drivers easily distracted and careless (myself included). Food for thought, while lasers can focus a beam at a pilot, at air shows and in the air force, pilots usually have spotters that use a mirror and line of sight....so while I understand his sentence to be a deterrent by example, I DON'T agree with harsh sentences for non-violent crimes.
- rayiner 13y agoThis is a violent crime.
- tommu 13y agoNo it isn't. It's a distracting annoyance at best.
- yeukhon 13y agoThe impact can be catastrophic.
- ynniv 13y agoLike putting your hands over the eyes of someone driving a car.
- cm127 13y agoMore like shining your brights to oncoming traffic: people do this all the time. No one gets 14 years for that.
- ynniv 13y agoThe sentencing is IMO shameful, but shining a laser into someone's eye is not at all like shining a bright light, and temporarily blinding a driver on a well maintained, well marked road is nothing light blinding an operator of a technically sophisticated, carefully balanced machine that operates in six degrees of freedom. Bright lights cause an iris response that protects the eye and is familiar. Lasers cause temporary spot blindness and are bewildering. Helicopters are, to my knowledge, the most difficult vehicle that humans pilot. They are fundamentally unstable and operate in an environment in which seemingly benign towers are fatal and there is no means of escape. Have you heard of an ejection seat on a helicopter? How about an escape hatch? Parachute? Floatation device? Airbags? Most failures in a helicopter can be fatal, even simple mechanical ones. You basically hope that you don't hit the ground too fast.
- rayiner 13y agoMaximum penalty under the statute is 5 years, http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A, so what else was going on? Looks like he was convicted both for pointing a laser at an aircraft and attempting to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. There is a good chance this gets overturned on appeal. Under the sentencing guidelines, the two offenses are similar offenses arising out of the same conduct and should have been grouped. You don't get to impose an above maximum sentence just because the guy has gang affiliations.
- kenrikm 13y agoPointing a laser at an aircraft is just plain stupid. However, I have a problem with the justice system making "examples" out of people, 14 Years is more then some people get after being convicted of rape or murder. Seems more like a 2-5 year offense, and unless you can point me to even one incident of a person that's been killed by this behavior the argument about it being potential murder etc.. is moot. Driving badly is can also kill people (and does, every day) however when was the last time someone was sentenced to 14 years for (just) driving like an ass?
- yeukhon 13y agoSure the sentence might be too much. 7-8 years might be suffice. But I totally disagree with Seems more like a 2-5 year offense, and unless you can point me to even one incident of a person that's been killed by this behavior the argument about it being potential murder etc. Here is one for life sentence: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-45-years-for-drunk-driving/ http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-4... So do a quick search. Why do I disagree? Because that's a reckless behavior. Did you read the article? He did it twice. Twice. Twice. As someone have put it, if you were on the aircraft, how would you feel about your safety? How would feel about people who are important to you on that aircraft? Of course we should punish assholes driving on the roads. If you have problem with your local laws on handling bad drivers, please talk to your local council members/congressmen to do a better job. If they think 14 years is too much, they can appeal and I think there is a high chance of lowering to 7-8 years. But whatever the length might be, he deserves a good hell lengthy sentence. And sometimes, lengthy sentence is to scare people off. This is what I called "establish an example."
- 650REDHAIR 13y ago"Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence." That might help add a few years.
- fragsworth 13y agoTell that to the multi-billion dollar correctional services industry who has a very easy time convincing politicians to increase prison sentences.
- tn13 13y agoIf American courts want to put a precedent to an ordinary crime such as this, they may follow India's example and do this instead: http://www.deeshaa.org/2013/12/06/lets-weep-for-a-morally-adrift-society/ http://www.deeshaa.org/2013/12/06/lets-weep-for-a-morally-ad...
- cm127 13y agoI can't wait for drones to replace helicopters. Helicopters are too loud and expensive and more dangerous than they should be.
- bequanna 13y agoCheaper, maybe. What leads you to believe that drones would be quieter?
- Turing_Machine 13y agoThe drone is likely to be a lot smaller because it doesn't have to carry a crew. Smaller engine -> quieter.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- suprgeek 13y agoEmbedded at the end of the Article is the critical information that reduces the Outrage-of-the day reaction a bit: "Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence." So this is some "repeat-offender" (three srikes/N strikes/Parole violation) type sentencing. Still a bit much in my opinion - He & his girlfriend were being stupid and reckless no doubt, but 14 years (and five for the GF) for this crime is excessive however you slice it.
- lsh123 13y agoDisclaimer: I am a private pilot and I am biased. Pointing a laser at the aircraft is dangerous to passengers and people on the ground. But it is also dangerous to pilots who might receive (permanent) damage to their eye sight thus risking to lose the job (that they love and that feeds them). If someone points a gun at the police officer and gets shot, then I think it is a Darwin law at work. Same here - I have no problem with getting idiots locked up for life.
- rfatnabayeff 13y ago"Rodriguez’s sentence clearly demonstrates the seriousness of his actions." This awkward moment when the seriousness of the crime is judged by the length of the sentence. Reminds me of a typical Soviet (and modern Russian) "public process" comments like "He wouldn't has been sentenced if he hadn't committed anything criminal", "Our court doesn't just sentence for nothing" etc.