This is the first time weve had this happen with the ferries, a Washington State Patrol official told me last fall. Weve heard about it with airlines, but we have not seen it with ferries before.
"This is the first time we've had this happen with the ferries," a Washington State Patrol official told me last fall. WSDOT

Remember the story about the man shining his laser at the ferry Tokitae? He claimed he was shining it on the surface of the water, but the captain and first mate said he was shining it in their eyes, and they had the burns to prove it.

As previously reported, this laser is strong enough to ignite a match.

This could have caused that ferry to run aground if they had blinded that captain to the point that he couldnt control that ferry, Washington State Patrol told me.
"This could have caused that ferry to run aground if they had blinded that captain to the point that he couldn't control that ferry," Washington State Patrol told me. Washington State Patrol

The U.S. Coast Guard just announced it's issuing a $100,000 civil penalty against the laser operator, although that number could change after a hearing in Virginia. The Coast Guard would like to add:

In addition to laser strikes on Washington State Ferries, laser strikes involving Coast Guard helicopters and rescue boats in Puget Sound have continued to increase over the last few years. Such strikes have adverse impacts on the conduct of Coast Guard law enforcement and search and rescue activities potentially affecting the ability to respond to a distress call or provide proper medical care of someone rescued. In addition, they can cause physical injury to any individuals struck.

Hey everyone: Stop shining your goddamn lasers at other people! What is wrong with you?

As Ars Technica points out, this isn't the first time this particular guy has gotten in trouble with a laser. The Everett Herald reports on "an incident last July in which he was accused of shining a laser into a police officer's eyes," after allegedly shining it in people's windows. The man has pled not-guilty in both cases, but faces felony charges for both, and is scheduled to go to trial in June. He "also was accused of a third incident last year involving a laser, but that didn't lead to charges," Everett Herald says.

Last time I talked to Washington State Patrol, they didn't know much about the laser other than the specs they'd read on the internet. Officials have since tried some things out with the laser to see just how strong it is. As Everett Herald reports:

In forensic testing, the laser was pointed at a piece of wood.

“The piece of wood immediately began to darken and smoldered in about 3 seconds, with visible smoke coming off,” a trooper wrote.

Yikes. I hope that captain and first mate are recovering okay. As for the laser operator? "An Island County judge has ordered him to stay away from lasers."