The East Dakota Highway patrol ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns, because of health concerns for the troopers using them.

Yesterday, the East Dakota Highway patrol ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns because of concerns that troopers could develop cancer from being exposed to the devices’ radiation waves for too long.

This now means that 70 radar guns will not be used anymore. However, the troopers will continue to use units with transmitters that are mounted on the outside of their cars.

Spokesman, Adam Smith, mentioned that “The whole situation is under review.”, as the ban was ordered as a precaution. “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue,” Smith said.

This move is considered to be the first of its kind by a state police agency. It comes two months after three municipal officers in Central City filed workman’s compensation claims, saying they developed cancer from using the hand–held units.