laser signaling

[Dan McCosh]

Just bought a flashlight that has a built-in red laser. I know that there are laser signaling devices that apparently show a bright red flash for several miles. I was wondering how they are aimed--would pointing the flashlight in the general direction of the target work? Anybody have any experience with lasers?

[Thorne]

Against the law in many states to shine lasers into people's eyes, or where it might hit their eyes -- I've seen folks arrested for this.

Emergency signaling might be OK -- not sure what you are asking about.

[Dan McCosh]

Against the law in many states to shine lasers into people's eyes, or where it might hit their eyes -- I've seen folks arrested for this.

Emergency signaling might be OK -- not sure what you are asking about.


There are emergency signaling devices that shine lasers into peoples eyes, which are among the most effecive known. May well be states ignorant of this. That is mainly what I was interested in. Hopefully, the wording isn't quite what you say--there have been issues of shining at aircraft, etc.

[ahp]

Very bad idea. It only takes a few milliwatts to cause permanent eye damage.

[Dan McCosh]

I think I found the answer to my own question. Commercial laser flares generate a line, rather than a dot--like laser chalk-lines. That allows the beam to intersect the target. Odds of seeing a dot did seem unlikely. They are FCC and USCG approved, by the way--would be interesting to know if state regs note this.

[WindHawk]

Don't know about the legality, but try shining one on a stop sign from about a half-mile away, the power will impress you & convince you of the danger to someone's eyesight.

[Dan McCosh]

Any light can damage eyesight. The issue is intensity. Lasers are also used for welding, and it is not advised to point such a laser at your hand. Lasers used for signaling are intended to be used for signaling.