A Boca Raton man’s attempt to “scare” another motorist with a green laser on southbound I-95 near Southern Boulevard during the morning commute ended with both vehicles on the shoulder and him in handcuffs, according to troopers. Investigators say the beam hit the other driver’s rear-view mirror, briefly blinding the victim before the cars pulled over. The device was later seized as evidence.
Andrew Coletto, 58, was arrested on March 30 and charged with a felony count of pointing a laser light at a driver or pilot, officials say. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 29. The victim told troopers he wanted to press charges, and investigators recovered the laser, according to CBS12.
What Troopers Say Happened
According to the incident report, dispatch received a call around 8:19 a.m. about a white box truck on southbound I-95 near Southern Boulevard. The truck, described in the report as a wine truck, allegedly shined a green laser into the mirror of a gray Ford F-150 multiple times.
The F-150 driver told investigators he temporarily lost his vision from the beam. The report states the two vehicles later stopped on the shoulder north of Hypoluxo Road, where troopers made contact with Coletto. He is quoted as admitting he used the laser to "scare" the other driver. Troopers took the black laser device with a green beam to the FHP Lantana substation as evidence, according to CBS12.
The Law And Potential Penalties
Florida’s "Misuse of Laser Lighting Devices" statute makes it a crime to shine or focus a laser beam on a person operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. The offense is classified as a third-degree felony under state law. The statute is set out in the Florida Statutes.
Under Florida’s general sentencing framework for third-degree felonies, violations can carry a maximum prison term of up to five years along with possible fines, as provided in the penalty provisions of the Florida Statutes.
How Common And How Dangerous
Safety officials warn that laser strikes can cause flash-blindness or dangerous distraction at highway speeds, and they have long been a concern for pilots as well as drivers. The Federal Aviation Administration notes that laser incidents are a persistent safety issue and that the agency tracks thousands of reported strikes across the country each year. The FAA encourages reporting such incidents to law enforcement and continues public outreach on the risks of laser misuse. See the agency’s public materials on laser incidents for national context, FAA.
Coletto’s case remains pending, with his April 29 court date expected to determine the next steps. Officials say anyone hit by a laser while driving who experiences vision problems should pull over safely, seek medical attention, and report the incident to local law enforcement so investigators can follow up.
