Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Number of Deliberate Laser Pointer Beam Strikes at Pedestrians and Vehicles Reported over the Last Five Years

Question:

Dr Tan Wu Meng: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs, in the past five years (a) how many incidents of deliberate laser pointer beam strikes at pedestrians and motor vehicle users have been reported; (b) of these, in how many cases are the perpetrators identified; (c) what are the enforcement actions or penalties arising; and (d) what recourse do pedestrians, drivers and riders have in the event of a laser pointer beam strike incident.

Answer:

Mr Desmond Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment:

1.    From 2017 to 2021, Police received four reports involving laser pointer beams being directed at pedestrians and motor vehicles.

2.    Two cases were committed by the same perpetrator. He was sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment last year for committing an act so rashly as to endanger the personal safety of others. For the two remaining cases, Police had not been able to identify the perpetrators.

3.    Persons found guilty of intentionally pointing laser beams at others may be liable for offences such as section 336 of the Penal Code 1871 for committing a rash act that endangers human life or the personal safety of others, which is punishable with a fine of up to S$2500, or imprisonment of six months, or both, and section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 for intentional harassment, punishable with a fine of up to S$5000, or imprisonment of six months, or both.

4.    Victims of such incidents can lodge a Police report.