City Council last week unanimously introduced an ordinance banning the sale and possession of high-powered laser pointers after multiple agencies suggested the measure to increase safety.

City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said the ordinance was proposed in response to requests by the city’s police department, federal authorities and air traffic controllers.

“Frequently during the summer months they have observed laser pointers at Atlantic City airport coming from the Ocean City area and particularly around the Boardwalk,” McCrosson said. In June, a 21-year-old Mantua man was arrested for pointing a laser pointer at a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.

The ordinance defines laser pointer as any device that emits laser light to project a beam that may be used for aiming, targeting or pointing out features. If approved, the new law would enact a penalty of up to $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Imprisonment is also allowed as a secondary punishment up to 30 days. The measure only applies to devices that exceed one milliwatt in output power and typically emit a green light.

Councilman Scott Ping, who asked for a similar ordinance nearly a year ago, said the move is needed because some merchants refused to stop selling the devices.

“Greed will outweigh common sense nine times out of ten,” he said.

A punishment for possession should be part of the ordinance, according to Councilman John Flood.

“Because of our location with flight path into Atlantic City and our own airport here, we need to go beyond the sale. We need to have something against the possession of it.”

Councilwoman Karen Bergman agreed with the ordinance, but she was concerned about public awareness of the proposed law.

“For a kid coming from Pennsylvania or wherever they come from, if they have a laser with them and they’re walking on the Boardwalk, then all of a sudden they’re slapped with a fine and they weren’t aware of that it wasn’t allowed,” she said. Bergman suggested that notices be posted.

McCrosson said this law would be like any other in Ocean City and that it would be up the discretion of the police force on how to enforce it for such instances.

The ordinance will be up for a public hearing and final vote on July 14.