US: Ocean City MD passes emergency law restricting laser pointer use, sale

Ocean City, Maryland, passed an emergency law on August 2 2010 restricting laser pointer sales and use in a number of ways:

• Sales to minors are prohibited.
• Possession by minors within town limits is prohibited.
• It becomes illegal to shine pointers on persons, streets, bays, sidewalks or the boardwalk.
• Stores must post conspicuous signs notifying prospective purchasers of the town’s laser pointer law.
• Stores must provide a written copy of the town’s law to anyone purchasing a pointer.

Violation is a misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to $1000 in fines and/or a jail sentence of up to six months.

The action is in response to an “out of control” situation in the resort city (see story here).

News story from WMAR covering the laser pointer problems and resulting law

From WBOC 16

Tags: US, Maryland, Ocean City, Video