By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Hays Police Department is on the lookout for someone who allegedly shined a laser at a plane flying over Hays on Monday night.

According to HPD Assistant Chief Brian Dawson, air traffic control out of Kansas City contacted the HPD to report the incident. Dawson said the plane is believed to be out of Kansas State-Salina.

Shining at laser at an aircraft is a federal offense, according to Dawson, but it will be difficult to find the person who committed the crime.

“Hopefully, this is going to be a rare incident (and) that we don’t start seeing more of these,” Wright said. “We’re going to document and investigate them as best we can.”

The Federal Aviation Administration received almost 3,900 reports of laser incidents in 2014. Anyone caught pointing a laser at an aircraft can receive a fine of up to $11,000 dollars from the FAA and up to five years in prison.