Pubdate: Thu, 23 Dec 2004
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2004sThe Australian
Contact: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/aus_letters.htm
Website: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

POLICE MODIFY ROADSIDE DRUG TEST

VICTORIAN Police have modified a world-first roadside drug test after
two of the first three drivers to test positive were later cleared by
laboratory analysis of their samples.

Police yesterday released the results of the laboratory tests amid
demands for an apology and threats of legal action from van driver
John De Jong, who tested positive for drugs at a highly-publicised
launch of the system last weeK.

Private tests supported Mr De Jong's claims of innocence and
subsequent police laboratory tests confirmed he was drug-free.

Police said today refinements to the way officers conduct the
sophisticated screening tests had been made to ensure they were as
accurate as possible.

"We have continually refined the way we do business on the side of the
road," Assistant Commissioner for Traffic Bob Hastings said.

"We're continually evaluating the equipment, but overall it's having a
great deterrent effect."

The minor changes involve the way in which a saliva swipe is taken for
the first roadside test.

If that test is positive, a second test will be carried out in a
police bus, and a positive result from that will be sent to a
laboratory for sophisticated analysis before any charges are laid.

Mr Hastings was speaking at the launch of the Christmas holiday road
safety blitz in Melbourne, which Police Minister Andre Haermeyer also
attended.

Mr Haermeyer said there had not been a single false positive test
since the modifications to the roadside drug testing process had been
made.

"We always said there would be some teething issues with this when
you're doing a world first," he said.

"We had it with random breath testing and we're having it with random
drug testing."

While NSW yesterday announced it would begin a 12-month trial of
roadside drug testing in March next year, but would not prosecute
suspected offenders during the trial, Victoria will penalise any
driver whose positive drug tests are confirmed by laboratory testing.

"Let me put this to you," Mr Haermeyer said.

"If the police were to pull over a driver and they were to do a
screening test that shows that driver to be positive, they send that
sample to the lab (and) that shows that driver to be positive, but
they've put that driver back on the road and allowed that driver to go
and kill somebody.

"What happens there?"

Police said today they would not apologise to Mr De Jong who was
devastated when his image was captured by waiting press photographers
and cameramen assembled by police to witness the first tests.

"If John De Jong needs an apology, I think the media ought to
apologise," Mr Hastings said.

"On that particular occasion, we briefed all those present in terms of
privacy issues, identity issues and we never identified any driver."

Officers had carried out 333 roadside drug tests, with laboratory
analysis confirming one driver had tested positive to drugs, Mr
Hastings said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek