Pubdate: Thu, 20 Nov 2008
Source: Gauntlet, The (CN AB Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Gauntlet Publications Society.
Contact:  http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2652
Author: Elijah Stauth
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

DON'T SMOKE AND DRIVE . . . ANYMORE

Calgary Police Service Introduces New Drug Recognition
Experts

If you're ideal summer day consists of inhaling the cough-inducing
smoke of a lovingly rolled, green-filled joint as you cruise down the
Red Mile to the tune of "Low Rider," then Calgary Police Services
would like you to meet their new drug recognition officers. These new
officers intend to take that not-a-care-in-the-world attitude out of
driving high. Specifically, the task of the no doubt keenly astute
"drug recognizers" is to crackdown on individuals driving under the
influence of any impairing substance.

The want to keep roads safer by removing impaired drivers is nothing
new and we are all well accustomed to seeing police Checkstops popping
up on long weekends and other alcohol-focused dates. The Breathalyzer,
invented in 1954, is able to give police the necessary empirical
evidence to keep drunk drivers off the roads, but there is, as of yet,
no surefire way to test for other substances that could impair drivers.

The drug recognition officers are intended to provide Calgary Police
Services with the necessary tools to keep the public safe from those
high-but-not-drunk drivers who terrorize our roads. The new officers
will have the authority to demand blood, urine or saliva samples as a
means to test for substances affecting a driver. On top of this, all
officers will be able to demand that a driver take a roadside
co-ordination test, forcing the motorist to perform such tasks as
walking a straight line or standing on one leg while touching their
nose.

The intent of these laws is noble, they seek to keep citizens safe by
eliminating as many factors that contribute to motor vehicle accidents
as possible. The more aware drivers are behind the wheel, the safer
they and those around them will be. The authority of the new officers
falls under criticism, however, in the problematic nature of testing
for substances such as marijuana or prescription drugs.

The deal is something like this: if you're pulled over and impairment
is expected a breath test will be administered. Once alcohol is ruled
out a co-ordination test could be conducted. If your co-ordination was
deemed to be sub-par, you would then be taken to a police detachment
where a drug recognition officer would perform up to 11 different
tests and then, only after determining the type of drug present, would
acquire the necessary fluid samples to test for the drug's presence.
If the tests come back from the lab positive, you get charged with
impaired driving, if they come back negative you're in the clear.

But marijuana can stay in the system for three to 30 days, making the
testing of body fluid highly suspect. Likewise, someone taking
painkillers earlier in the week might have these drugs show up in an
analysis of their body fluids later.

In defence of this accusation, the police suggest that the same is
true for alcohol consumption. If an individual drank heavily two days
ago the alcohol could still show up on a Breathalyzer test, but it
would be below the level for impairment. The task in front of the
police is then to determine the proper levels to look for when testing
different drugs.

While the safety of our roads is an undeniably important subject, so
too are the rights of the drivers on those roads. The dangerously
subjective nature of a co-ordination test could treat innocent drivers
to the inconvenience of sitting through some uncomfortable tests with
a drug recognition officer. At the same time, when the possibility of
injury is present because of impairment, placing our faith in
someone's subjective analysis is favourable to someone's death. Even
with the possible flaws in the system, a procedure that motivates
alert and focused drivers is one that should be encouraged.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin