The FBI is starting a public awareness campaign to make sure people know that pointing a laser at an aircraft is no joke. Tucson Police Department Sergeant Chris Potter knows the danger first hand.
“I lost eyesight in my right eye and it felt like there was a piece of glass or some kind of debris in there which was disallowing me to see out of my right eye,” Potter said.
Since it began keeping track of laser incidents in 2005, the FBI says there has been a more than 1,000 percent increase in laser incidents. The Bureau says it chose Arizona to start its campaign because of the large number of reported incidents.
Phoenix Police Department Chief Daniel Garcia says his helicopter pilots are hit by lasers at least twice a month.