No lasers of any kind?

[purduephotog]

I was re-reading the rules looking for information and noted that, again, there was a statement that said "No lasers of any kind permitted"

While at the competition I saw one robot using a laser as a sensor to determine the speed of the shooter (think of it as a very large non-contact optical encoder).

What's the correct call here? They were obviously allowed to compete as I only saw it at the end of the competition.

I *(personally)* believe the laser restriction is too restrictive- lasers under 5mw and red should be permitted... green/blue/dye pumped/CO2/IR should not.