Laser pointers are making headlines across South Carolina and most of the new stories involve teenagers. Laser pointers are a new popular item for teenagers, especially green lasers, which are reported to shine more than a mile in distance.
South Carolina news reports of laser pointer disturbances
- In the upstate region of South Carolina, 7 on Your Side reported that at a recent J.L. Mann vs Greenville High football game, an official requested via loudspeaker for spectators to stop pointing laser beams in the stadium.
- A teenager at Union High School was recently arrested for pointing a laser at a police officer’s eye during a school presentation according to a report from WYFF, News Channel 4. The 16-year-old student was charged with assalt and battery.
- The Myrtle Beach City Council recently proposed a ban on the sale of laser pointers to minors according to News 13. This past summer, officials and vacationers reported use of laser pointers on the beach and on hotel premises.
Green laser pointers can cause damage to the eye
Laser pointers used by teens can be distracting to helicopter pilots, airplane pilots, sporting event officials of course, but the strength of green lasers can also cause damage to the eye's retina according to a New York Times health article and the Mayo Clinic.
The FDA has issued a warning to parents about the potential danger of kids and teens using laser pointers.
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