What laser pointers are legal?
In the U.S. and some other countries, lasers sold to the public for pointing must be 5 milliwatts (5/1000 of a watt) or less. This power is high enough so the laser “dot” is sufficiently visible for pointing out things, and is low enough to not be a serious eye hazard. It is not intended or legal to sell lasers for pointing (US: “demonstration” lasers) above 5 milliwatts. In the United Kingdom, laser pointers are limited to 1 milliwatt. Pointers above this power will be seized on import; for example, in November 2008 a shipment of 5 milliwatt laser pointers was seized.
