The Associated Press reports today that a young gentleman faces five years in prison for aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter. Apparently he disrupted the chopper’s flight plans near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Over the years I’ve written a bit about laser pointers, but it never occurred to me to include this admonishment. However at laserpointersafety.com right under “Sentences for laser offenses” at the top of the list is states: “NEVER aim at aircraft.”

And I might add – don’t aim at police aircraft either.

Here are a few rules for using laser pointers for your presentations:

1. Do not overuse. If you have something very specific for us to see – point the laser directly where you want us to focus. And then turn it off.
2. Do not circle the laser pointer around an entire picture or bullet point. This is distracting. You are not a laser show.
3. Be mindful of using descriptive words to show us where to look, instead of pointing the laser and saying, “over there” or “right here”. Rather, say, “In the second bar of this graph…”

Please note that Speak For Yourself will be away from the office for a couple of weeks. For all my readers – Hi Paul! – keep enjoying your summer!

Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., author of 3 books and President of Speak For Yourself®, works with organizations on how to communicate to make more money. It’s all in how you speak for yourself. Read more at www.SpeakForYourself.com/blog/