Laser pointers can blind security cameras and cause permanent damage
Reports indicate that powerful laser pointers used against older surveillance equipment in various locations can create dead pixels or destroy lenses.
How lasers affect camera sensors
Lasers emit concentrated beams of light at high intensity. Cameras convert this light into electrical charges, which intense beams can disrupt to create blind spots.
Conditions required for damage
Permanent damage requires a very powerful laser combined with an older camera and an extremely steady pulse. Most incidents involve difficult combinations of these specific factors rather than standard consumer devices.
Legal consequences and costs
A 2021 arrest in Clearwater involved a man pointing a laser at Church of Scientology cameras. The incident resulted in over $2,000 in damages to the lenses even though the cameras still captured video.
Reported by one outlet
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