It turns out that Christmas laser lights can be dangerous.
So, we have been making a very BIG mistake here at NightScenes for several years — but it is never too late to do the right thing moving forward.
Christmas laser lights are the new big deal for decorating people’s homes. They can project thousands of points of light onto any surface, and they definitely look pretty darn cool. Those of us in the lighting industry have had these lights available for about 8 years now, but only recently have they become affordable enough for vendors to advertise to the public – and they have certainly taken off.
As I said, those of us in the outdoor lighting industry have had access to these products for a long time; and we have actually installed several of them here in central Texas, including at my own home. I never once even thought about the dangers of these products. However, all of that changed the other day when Patty (my wonderful wife) asked if there were any issues with planes, since laser pointers were so dangerous. I immediately thought, “Of course not – these decorative lights are nowhere near as powerful as those pointers they talk about on the news,” but I have been sadly mistaken.
Just last night a news report described a 737 in Dallas getting hit by a Christmas light laser at 13,000 feet and the laser was actually 22 miles away! It got my attention very quickly. I have spent the day today trying to do some research on the subject, but there actually is not much information available, except that of the laser pointers being illegal to shine at aircraft.
Here at NightScenes we have always promoted safe and responsible outdoor lighting. I am a member of the International Dark-Sky Association and have helped write outdoor lighting restrictions for neighborhood developments and the city of Horseshoe Bay, Texas. After finding no evidence to support my theory that holiday laser lights are somehow less powerful than the average laser pointer, I have had to reconsider how my company can justify their use knowing the potential harm that could be done. Truthfully, I simply cannot do it. With this in mind, I believe it would be very reckless of us to install or offer these laser lights to anyone for outdoor use.
Therefore, we will no longer offer laser light products, and will discourage others from using them.
It would be a terrible thing for an outdoor light display, especially at Christmas celebrating joy and love, to cause pain and sorrow by interfering with a pilot and possibly causing a tragic accident.
Be safe, my friends! Merry Christmas, and if you need Christmas lighting ideas, please contact us by clicking right here.
We used to shine our up into the tree canopy. This year they shine down on the bushes and up close on the house making certain no light shines above the roofline.
That’s great to hear Pamela!