Pubdate: Wed, 02 Aug 2006
Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Surrey Leader
Contact:  http://www.surreyleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236
Author: Monique Tamminga
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVERS TARGETED

Those who choose to get high and drive may no longer be  getting a
free ride in Canada.

The federal Conservatives are looking at ways to combat  drug-impaired
driving through stronger enforcement  legislation that can lead to
prosecution.

"Department of Justice lawyers are working on  legislation which will
help police deal with  drug-impaired drivers," said Langley MP Mark
Warawa  last Wednesday.

He made the announcement at a press conference  organized by the
Langley RCMP on the issue of teens'  lax attitudes toward smoking pot
and getting behind the  wheel of a car. Politicians, police and youth
counsellors joined forces to say this is a problem that  should be
taken seriously.

Langley resident Helen Featherston knows all too well  about the
dangers of driving high. In April 2002, she  lost her 16-year-old son
Simon in a horrific  single-vehicle car crash. Court testimony
indicated the  driver was under the influence of marijuana.

The crash also killed another boy, Dayton Unger.

"I would hope that my son's death would prevent someone  else's
death," said Featherston at the press  conference. "We are devastated.
He was our only child,  we were very close."

Simon didn't know the driver of the Mustang.

"Parents can't be apathetic, if you want to save your  child, get in
their face about things," she said.

The driver, 16 at the time, was the first person in  B.C. to be
charged with drug-impaired driving. Because  of a technicality, the
charge was dropped.

Police are hoping the federal legislation will include  allowing for
mandatory bodily fluid samples from  suspected drug impaired drivers.

"Give us the legislation piece that is missing. At  roadside checks if
we suspect someone of drug impaired  driving we want the person to
submit a bodily fluid  sample," said drug recognition expert and RCMP
drug  awareness co-ordinator Cpl. Beth Blackburn.

At roadside checks, she's seen an increase in teens  driving while
high, many of whom believe it's safe to  do.

Warawa however, worries that mandatory drug-testing  wouldn't get past
a Charter challenge. Through current  provincial legislation, police
can't demand a blood or  urine sample for drugs but can for alcohol.
They can  impound a person's car or suspend a driver's licence if
they suspect the driver of being impaired by drugs.

Warawa is hoping the new legislation will give police  more
enforcement powers and increase the ability to  prosecute.
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MAP posted-by: Derek