5 held in shining of laser at copter

Five teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of shining a handheld laser at a law enforcement helicopter that was patrolling downtown over the weekend, police said Tuesday.

The green laser beam, which is bright enough to temporarily impair a pilot’s vision, was aimed at the helicopter about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. A Burbank police pilot and a Glendale flight officer were aboard the aircraft, and they guided patrol officers to the area where the light came from.

Police later arrested five juveniles, ages 13 to 16, on suspicion of shining a laser at an aircraft, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $2,000 fine. The boys, whose names were not released because they are minors, were cited and released to the custody of their parents, authorities said.

Federal Aviation Administration officials say laser beams pose a safety hazard for pilots, especially during takeoffs and landings. Nationwide, the agency has received about 2,000 reports of lasers being pointed at aircraft during the last four years.

-- Dan Weikel