Posted on 01/21/2011 11:51:56 AM PST by NavyCanDo
SEATTLE -- A lawyer for a Lynden man charged with temporarily blinding the crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol helicopter during a mission last fall says he shined a spotlight at the helicopter out of curiosity.
the Blackhawk helicopter was hovering only about 600 feet above Groen's home just before 10 p.m. on Sept. 22, and Groen shined a spotlight at it to see what it was doing.
He could face 20 Years in Jail.
(Excerpt) Read more at kirotv.com ...
I had a whole different viewpoint on this case after watching the news video. I went from throw the guy in jail - to "come on are they serious?" after watching the news clip.
I guess his curiosity has been satisified
Is the pilot actually blind?
Why was it hovering right near his house?
Second, is that really his defense?? really?
When flashlights are outlawed, only outlaws will have flashlights
I’ll keep an open mind, but this guy does not own the airspace 600 feet above his house any more than he owns the public road in front of his house. If he intentionally shined a bright light toward the eyes of a car driver on the road, I would hope he would be prosecuted. Why is this different?
Blind? No. He was dazzled.
This is the equivilent of threatening a guy with 20 years in jail for failing to dim his bright lights on the highway.
I watched the tape and agree. They said the helicopter was running without lights. I wonder if they got FAA permission to do that?
That’s one hell of a flashlight if it could blind two pilots from 600 feet
A spotlight is a different matter. You hover over my property at or near FAA minimums, I have a definite interest in who the heck you are and what the heck you're doing.
1. No one was hurt.
2. There is no evidence that he was trying to hurt anyone.
3. He acted reasonably.
4. His neighbors supports him.
5. Drop it.
Like the headlight of an oncoming vehicle?
Seems perfectly reasonable. After all, the guy probably didn’t have a permit and a CCW license for that spotlight.
/s
Where I come from headlights shine straight ahead, not intentionally and directly into the eyes of other drivers.
This is a strange collection of circumstances...
A Helicopter...
Hovering 600 ft. over someone’s house...
Who happens to have a spotlight...
They were using night vision equipment which they had to stop using. That’s it.
bedazzler!!
oh never mind
Right. And I suppose, then, since the direction of the headlights is not intentionally into the eyes of drivers in oncoming lanes, where you come from, the roads must all be arrow-straight, and folks all drive around at night with their hi-beams on continually. After all, it ain’t intentional, so it must be okay. At least, where you come from.
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When I originally read the story, I had mistakenly inferred that he was using a laser. I was wrong. I am with you on this one. If you bring any kind of motor vehicle, at night, without any lights, near my property, expect to bet the spotlights.
And it is reasonable for me to do so.
There is no case here.
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