Police troopers could develop cancer from radar guns.

On September 2, South Iowa Highway patrol ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns. The ban was ordered as a precaution to protect the troopers from possible links between cancer and the radiation admitted from the guns.

Adam Smith said that “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue.” This change is the first kind by a state police agency. This comes two months after three Cedar Rapids officers claimed they developed cancer from using the hand-held radar guns.

The ban affects 70 radar guns that will be withdrawn from service. However, troopers will continue to use radar guns with transmitters mounted on the outside of their cars.