Quick Help? Does light-writing with a laser pointer harm your camera?

I have one of those cheap little red laser pointer key-chain things and I was wondering if I could use it to light-write with my Nikon D80 DSLR or if the laser would mess up the insides of the camera?

Please let me know as soon as possible because I'm taking my camera out tonight.

It wouldn't hurt your camera, but it also wouldn't work well for light writing unless you were writing on a wall with the laser.

The problem with lasers is that they emit light in a monochromatic coherent beam. For light writing you are much better off using a traditional light source.

You're fine (:
however, if you were using one of those expensive, high powered lasers and shined it directly into the lens it will burn a spot into your sensor ):

cheapy little laser pointers will do no harm, but if you're using what I think you're talking about, the camera is going to pick up barely any light, I always use little LED lights, or small flashlights.

Here's a series I did just last night with a small led with an iridescent filter over it: