Laser Pointers
- Geoff Harrison
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Published by Geoff Harrison | 4 September 2025
It is an offence to use or possess a laser pointer in a public place under s11FA of the Summary Offences Act 1988, the maximum penalty being 50 penalty units ($5,500) and/or 2 years imprisonment. If the laser pointer is a hand-held battery-operated device with a power output of more than 1 milliwatt, it is an offence to use or possess the laser pointer under s7 of the Prohibited Weapons Act 1998 unless the person is authorised to do so by permit.
If a person aims a laser pointer at an aircraft with the intention of prejudicing the safety of an aircraft or vessel, they are liable to imprisonment for 14 years; under s205 of the Crimes Act 1900.
Other Sources:
Cases:
Jacob v R [2014] NSWCCA 65 (re history of the Weapons Prohibitions Act)
Extracted Legislation:
SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT 1988 - SECT 11FA
Custody or use of laser pointer in public place
(1) A person must not, without reasonable excuse (proof of which lies on the person)--
(a) have in his or her custody a laser pointer in a public place, or
(b) use a laser pointer in a public place.
Maximum penalty--50 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both.
(2) Without limitation, it is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of this section for a person--
(a) to have custody of, or use, a laser pointer if the custody or use is reasonably necessary in all the circumstances for the lawful pursuit of the person's occupation, education, training or hobby, or
(b) to have custody of a laser pointer if the person has custody during travel to or from or incidental to that occupation, education, training or hobby.
(3) The regulations may provide that this section does not apply to or in relation to any specified class or description of laser pointer.
(4) In this section--
"laser pointer" means a hand-held battery-operated device, designed or adapted to emit a laser beam, that may be used for the purposes of aiming, targeting or pointing.
WEAPONS PROHIBITION ACT 1998 - SECT 7
Offence of unauthorised possession or use of prohibited weapon
(1) A person must not possess or use a prohibited weapon unless the person is authorised to do so by a permit.
Maximum penalty--imprisonment for 14 years.
(2) Without limiting the operation of subsection (1), a person who is the holder of a permit to possess or use a prohibited weapon is guilty of an offence under this section if the person--
(a) possesses or uses the prohibited weapon for any purpose otherwise than in connection with the purpose established by the person as being the genuine reason for possessing or using the weapon, or
(b) contravenes any condition of the permit.
Schedule 1 - Miscellaneous Articles
...
(8) A laser pointer, or any other similar article, that consists of a hand-held battery-operated device with a power output of more than 1 milliwatt, designed or adapted to emit a laser beam and that may be used for the purposes of aiming, targeting or pointing.
CRIMES ACT 1900 - SECT 205
Prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft or vessel
A person who, whether on board the aircraft or vessel or not, does anything with the intention of prejudicing the safety of an aircraft or vessel is liable to imprisonment for 14 years.
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