Local officials are applauding the Federal Aviation Administration’s new strategy of imposing fines on those who shine laser beams at aircraft.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is already illegal under state law and be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The maximum sentence for a conviction is three years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

As of June 1, the FAA will also begin imposing civil penalties of up to $11,000 against those who shine lasers at aircraft in flight, FAA officials said in a written statement.

“Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke,” FAA Administrator Babbitt said. “These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft, jeopardizing the safety of the passengers and people on the ground.”

A legal interpretation released by the FAA indicated the agency has expanded the definition of interfering with a flight crew to include shining a laser at the aircraft from the ground.

“In the past, the FAA has taken enforcement action under this regulation against passengers physically on-board an aircraft who interfere with crewmembers,” according to the FAA statement.

“(This) interpretation reflects the fact that pointing a laser at an aircraft from the ground could seriously impair a pilot’s vision and interfere with the flight crew’s ability to safely handle its responsibilities.”

The sheriff’s department, which has had plenty of experience with lasers being shined at its own aircraft, came out in support of the move.

“This is another great tool for law enforcement to help protect flight crews and the public from the hazard of lasers pointed at aircraft,” Sgt. Morrie Zager, a helicopter pilot with the the Sheriff’s Aero Bureau said. “This is extremely serious and lives could be lost in the air and on the ground as a result.”

Over the past eight months, sheriff’s helicopters have been struck by laser lights at least a half-dozen times, Capt. Michael Parker said. Other police agencies have also reporter having their helicopters illuminated by laser light from the ground.

The incidents resulted in the arrests of two suspects from separate incidents in Pico Rivera, as well as others in West Covina, La Puente, Lynwood and Maywood, sheriff’s officials said.

Most recently, Azusa police arrested Daniel Sims, 20, of Azusa Sunday on suspicion of shining a laser at a police helicopter.

West Covina police jailed a 28-year-old man in early March on suspicion of habitually shining a laser pointer at sheriff’s, police and commercial aircraft over more than a year.

Lt. Mike Ingram of the Pasadena Police Department’s Air Operations Section also welcomed the news of federal fines for those who point lasers at aircraft.

“We’ve been the victims of laser strikes like many other Southern California airborne units, Ingram said. “It’s becoming a huge issue.”

A bright laser shined from the ground can virtually illuminate the cockpit of a helicopter, the lieutnant said. In severe cases, pilots can have their eyesight famaged by the beams.

“What’s more common is you lose your night vision… see spots,” Ingram said. “You basically lose your ability to look outside.”

The majority of those arrested for shining lasers at aircraft in Pasadena have been mischevious teens or intoxicated people who did not appear to intend serious harm to the aircraft, Ingram said, but that doesn’t make the laser beams direcred at pilots any less dangerous to those inside the aircraft and those below on the ground.

“I don’t think it’s intentional most of the time to do us harm, but regarless, it could lead to a castostrphic event,” Ingram said.

“This year, pilots (nation-wide) have reported more than 1,100 incidents nationwide of lasers being pointed at aircraft,” the FAA statement said. 

Reports of laser-related incidents have increased steadily since the FAA first created a formal reporting system to document them in 2005. Reported incidents rose from less than 300 in 2005 to 2,836 in 2010, according to the FAA.