11/05/2025
🚨WARNING: Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony
Over the past few months, the Sierra Vista Police Department has taken several calls about someone pointing a laser pointer beam at medical helicopters as they were launching from Canyon Vista Medical Center.
Helicopter personnel wear special helmets that allow them to see better at night and the beam from a laser pointer can drastically affect the night vision optics of the helmet to the point where the pilot would not be able to launch the helicopter. The beam could also temporarily blind the pilot, which could result in the pilot losing control of the aircraft and possibly crashing.
It is also illegal to point a laser pointer at an aircraft.
Arizona Revised Statue 13-1213 states: A person commits aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly directs the beam of light from a laser pointer at an aircraft and the person knows or reasonably should know that the aircraft is occupied.
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 2 felony if the act causes the pilot to crash the aircraft or perform an emergency landing. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 3 felony if the act renders the pilot unable to safely operate the aircraft. Intentionally or knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft is a class 6 felony.
For this most recent incident, the aircraft crew advised the laser seemed to be coming from the Moson Road and Chief Joseph Road area. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the source of the laser pointer. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to please contact the SVPD by calling (520) 452-7500.
