Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!srcsip!maitai!ferguson
From: ferguson@maitai.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Dennis Ferguson)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Bad News- Lasers replace Radar guns
Summary: government control
Keywords: FDA, FCC, OSHA, EPA
Message-ID: <54717@srcsip.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 90 00:53:24 GMT
References: <51058@bbn.COM> <8561@nigel.udel.EDU> <19185@bcsaic.UUCP>
Sender: news@src.honeywell.COM
Reply-To: ferguson@maitai (Dennis Ferguson)
Organization: Honeywell, Systems & Research Center, Camden, MN
Lines: 37

In article <19185@bcsaic.UUCP> carroll@bcsaic.UUCP (Jeff Carroll) writes:
>In article <8561@nigel.udel.EDU> berryh@udel.edu (John Berryhill) writes:
>>Precisely.  I'd just love to see those FCC bastards try to regulate
>>optical frequencies.
>
>	Which federal agency *is* it that regulates lasers? Isn't it the
>FDA?

I believe everyone can get into the regulation act.  If it's
communications, then the FCC is the primary regulator.  If it
affects airplanes then the FAA regulates it.  If it's poses a
workplace hazard then OSHA can regulate it.  If you ingest it
then the FDA can regulate it.  The EPA gets to regulate the the
byproduct wastes.   This sometimes poses some interesting regulatory
problems.   For example, radio towers over 300 ft tall come under the
jurisdiction of the FCC, FAA, EPA, and OSHA.  The FCC for potential
interference, the FAA as an air traffic hazard, the EPA since radio
towers are ugly and despoil the environment, and OSHA since you can
get hurt working on one.

A laser used for communications would come under the juridiction of
the FDA, FCC, FAA (if used near an airport) and possibly the FDA.  A
very low power laser used as traffic radar would probably come under
the jurisdiction of OSHA since the traffic cop could potentially blind
himself (zaps the rearview mirror or looks into the beam to see it it's
working).  Presumably, they wouldn't allow use of a laser powerful
enough to blind an oncoming motorist  (occasionally, you do get
flashblinded by the grocery store lasers).

What you need is a stealth car that makes use of tuned optical coatings
like the anti laser goggles worn by pilots.  If you know the wavelength,
you should be able to make an absorbtive coating.  Some enterprising
person will sell some doped version of polyglycoat (sp?) that prevents
rust, renews the finish of older cars, and absorbs those nasty police
lasers.

Dennis