SPOKANE, Wash. -- A Spokane area high school has nixed plans to use a cell phone jammer.

"If we truly wanted to get a hold of someone that had a cell phone, for example our security officers, and their cell phones are jammed, that wouldn't be a good deal," said Ralph Thayer with the Mead School District in Spokane.

Mt. Spokane High School recently completed a one-day test of the jammer, which was turned on during class time and off during passing periods and lunch hours to give students access to parents or to make important calls.

The main complication, though, is that using the scanner would be illegal.

"We just found out there's a federal law in regards to using a device such as a cell phone jammers," Thayer said.

Thayer said the principal at Mt. Spokane High School heard about another school using the device and that's why he decided to give it a try.

Thayer said they didn't initially know it was illegal, "I think that other school districts that are implementing these devices would have to take a look at that also."

The district is going to try to get its money back for the jammer.