Pubdate: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Author: Leah Prestayko Note: Leah Prestayko is an associated editor with The News. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) PLAN NEEDED The federal government should be applauded for its decision to crackdown on drivers who are impaired due to drug use. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Friday new legislation that would provide law enforcement officials with the tools needed to detect drug-impaired drivers. Anything that can be done to prevent accidents caused by impaired drivers on the roadways should be done. Here comes the usual list of ifs, ands or buts. While new legislation is a step in the right direction, that step will never lead anywhere without a great deal of money to back it up. In order for such legislation to be useful -- useable even -- officials need to be provided with the tools necessary to do the job. In this case, the key is having a means to test drivers for drug impairment. That's a sticky area. Many of the drug tests currently available to police only indicate if a drug is present in a person's system, but fail to provide concrete evidence of when a drug was consumed and to what level it is affecting the body. Until, better testing options are available any legislation is of little use. While it will cost money to develop those testing options, it's worth the cost. It will only be the beginning, however. Civil liberties will surely be called in to question and law enforcement officials will be forced to follow criteria regarding when a test can be administered and under what circumstances. Those civil liberties are important and so are human lives. That's why it's critical this announcement be followed up with dollars and action, to keep Canadians safe and punish those who jeopardize that safety. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman