I had some medical testing today that involved the injection of radioisotopes for scans.
When it was over and I was ready to leave, they gave me a paper to present to the police if I was pulled over that stated I was given the radioactive injections and the radiation could be detectable for up to three days.

I can see that if I was crossing the border or going into an international port like New York or Los Angeles I might pass by radiation detectors, but where else would this be a problem? Do you guys carry radiation detectors that would pick it up on a routine traffic stop?

They are called PRDs(personal radiation detectors), you can google all about them.

Your timing is perfect! I'm going to be setting up a Special Nuclear Materials walk-through radiation detector for testing in the next couple of days. Want to come volunteer as a test subject?

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
They are called PRDs(personal radiation detectors), you can google all about them.

Thanks. I learned something. I had no idea those were in common use.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
Your timing is perfect! I'm going to be setting up a Special Nuclear Materials walk-through radiation detector for testing in the next couple of days. Want to come volunteer as a test subject?

If you were closer, I might

I was a street cop in a little town in NC. No we didn’t have Geiger detectors. I imagine the port authority in NYC and maybe airports have them.
But regular places…no.

After 9/11 many cities, especially NYC, WDC, and Austin, TX set up radiation detectors to detect 'dirty bombs'. I surmise that the experts decided that individual first responders should be provided with personal indicators.

At the last gun show I worked for VCDL I was asked by an attendee if I knew if anyone at the show was selling geiger counters. Apparently the technology is filtering down to the general public.

Staying in CT? I think you'll be fine.

About ten years ago a friend had a similar procedure and vacationed in AZ (or maybe it was So Cal) soon afterwards. Driving in the US near (not crossing) the border she set off a fixed detector (not a PRD) and got stopped. She said the agents were extremely polite and helped her figure out what caused the alert.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I was a street cop in a little town in NC. No we didn’t have Geiger detectors. I imagine the port authority in NYC and maybe airports have them.
But regular places…no.

What do you consider regular places? We aren’t that big and I would consider us regular we have them and so does our Fire Department.
I’d go to say any and all cities that have a NCAA Div I football or basketball ball team certainly have them.

But as to the question of routine traffic stop not likely but strange stuff can happen at anytime/anywhere. You happen to be at Walmart and something weird goes down and the detectors are on scene. You are getting a letter to show the police. That means it’s been needed on more than one occasion.

I’ve done some work with these guys:

RAP (Radiological Assistance Program)

In the Midwest those forms are given for transit, primarily for airline travel within a short window until the material decays out. Since your out East, possibly other detectors in busy areas.

Our national guardsman here would show up to our Pro soccer games and sweep the area for NBC threats. We (the police) had nothing to do with it. They did advise us that if we saw them running we should run faster.

I have never heard of it, but I am in a small town setup