Still not convinced...
RCW 9A.49.030
Unlawful discharge of a laser in the second degree.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful discharge of a laser in the second degree if he or she knowingly and maliciously discharges a laser, under circumstances not amounting to unlawful discharge of a laser in the first degree or malicious mischief in the first or second degree:
(a) At a person, not described in RCW
9A.49.020(1) (a) through (f), who is operating a motor vehicle at the time, causing an impairment of the safety or operation of a motor vehicle by negatively affecting the driver; or
(b) At a person described in RCW
9A.49.020(1) (b) through (f), causing a substantial risk of an impairment or interruption as described in RCW
9A.49.020(1) (b) through (f); or
(c) At a person in order to intimidate or threaten that person.
(2) Except as provided in RCW
9A.49.040, unlawful discharge of a laser in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
the key is this... That laser points down towards the road to make a line or pattern using a prism from the lense. They when fog or rain enters the beam the light is shown and whammo you have the light patterns in the air. The laws above are all about "At a person" which this device is not intended to do. You could replace laser with exhaust right, you arent supposed to put your exhaust in someones window at the stoplight either. Sounds silly but that's the law, no different than using good care in how you install and direct the light.
WAC 204-21-230
Lighting equipment prohibited.
(1) The addition of a lamp, reflective device or other motor vehicle equipment must not impair the effectiveness of lighting equipment required by 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 or chapter
46.37 RCW.
(a) If a vehicle is in motion on a public roadway, the vehicle must not:
(i) Display aftermarket neon lighting devices.
(ii) Combine any type of letter, number, sign, symbol or combination thereof with an eye level brake light meeting the standards of 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 (FMVSS 108). No function other than red reflex reflectors will be combined in eye level brake lights.
(iii) Have a lighted or electrically/mechanically powered sign or message board enabling change or movement of any displayed message to be displayed or affixed to the vehicle. Except:
(A) Vehicles that are used in conjunction with officially sanctioned or sponsored motor vehicle traffic control or movement may display lighted or electrically powered signs to assist in the efficient control of traffic movement on public roadways. The signs must be designed, worded, and located to limit misinterpretation and confusion by the motoring public.
(B) Electric signs may be unitized to identify taxicabs and the destinations of mass transportation vehicles. These signs must not contain any commercial or personal message and must be designed, worded, and located so that it is clearly differentiated from other required motor vehicle lights.
(b) If a vehicle is not in motion and parked on private property, the vehicle may use aftermarket lighting except as outlined under RCW
46.37.180.
(c) This section is not intended to prohibit a scrolling sign provided that the scrolling sign must:
(i) Be powered by an external source or in a manner which does not cause the required equipment on the vehicle to be out of compliance with 49 C.F.R. Part 571, chapter
46.37 RCW or Title 204 WAC.
(ii) Not be lit.
(iii) Not have continual motion.
(2) Pursuant to Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108, the addition of an aftermarket style ornament or other feature such as tinted plastic glass covers, a grille or slotted covers must not be placed in front of the headlamp lens, or in front of any other lighting devices installed on motor vehicles which impair the effectiveness of lighting equipment required under 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 (FMVSS 108) or chapter
46.37RCW. Except:
(a) Clear aftermarket headlamp covers.
(b) Headlamp wipers may be used in front of the lens provided that the headlamp system is designed to conform to all applicable photometric requirements in 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 (FMVSS 108) with the wiper stopped in any position in front of the lens.
(c) A bike rack may be installed on the front of a municipal transit vehicle (as defined under RCW
46.04.355) provided that even with the bike rack installed, loaded or unloaded with bicycles, the headlight system still conforms with all applicable photometric requirements in 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 (FMVSS 108).
(3) Red emergency lights are prohibited on any vehicle other than an authorized emergency vehicle, a law enforcement vehicle, an emergency tow truck as defined in WAC
204-21-020(8), school buses, and private carrier buses.
(4) Blue lights are prohibited on any vehicle other than a law enforcement vehicle as defined in WAC
204-21-020.
(5) Flashing white lights are prohibited on any vehicle other than authorized emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, school buses, and emergency tow trucks as defined in WAC
204-21-020.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005 and
46.37.320. WSR 15-16-124, § 204-21-230, filed 8/5/15, effective 9/5/15; WSR 08-19-104, § 204-21-230, filed 9/17/08, effective 10/18/08.]
This law refers to letters, signs and neon but never mentions lasers... It speaks to flashing lights and what color lights but that's it... Most of what is called out here is covering over the factory lights that are already there... you can't cover them up!
That's how I read it!
