The FBI will pay $10,000 for information that helps catch individuals that intentionally point lasers at aircraft.
Twelve different offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation will handsomely reward people who give information that leads to an arrest of a person who aims a laser at an aircraft on purpose, which can have "deadly repercussions," the FBI said.
"Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a serious matter and a violation of federal law," said assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, Ron Hosko in a statement. "It is important that people understand that this is a criminal act with potentially deadly repercussions," he added.
There has been a 1,000 percent increase in the frequency of the number of incidents with these devices since 2005, said CNBC, and last year 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft were reported—an average of almost 11 incidents per day according to the FBI.
As of December 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration has documented at least 35 incidents where pilots required medical attention after a laser strike, said CNBC.