LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A program that had some police officers in five Michigan counties asking drivers to allow a swab of their mouth to determine if they’ve been using drugs is being expanded statewide.
Michigan State Police say it’s part of an effort to cut down on so-called drugged driving.
The initial one-year pilot program started in late 2017 in Berrien, Delta, Kent, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties. Police officers who are trained as drug recognition experts collected oral fluid if they suspected a driver is impaired by drugs. During the initial pilot program, it was used on 92 drivers.
State police say the roadside test correlated well will lab test and blood test results. Officials say it will take a few months before it’s launched statewide.
2 comments
I doubt this will survive a court challenge. If I’m pulled over for no reason and they want to swap me and I’m not using drugs I going to refuse the test. They’ll search the car, find nothing, take me to the hoosegow anyway and the I’ll sue the shit out of them. They better have some darn good probably cause when they pull you over to boot. Does anyone detect the irony that this policy goes into effect right after Michigan legalizes recreational marijuana?
Does anyone know how this works? Lots depends on how much is consumed, how long after it was used, the strength of the drug or drugs used and more. Everything about this seems a mystery for the courts to eventually figure out.
I’m concerned about the abuse of power that this may bring upon the people of our great state, and the other states that will use the same approach to serve and protect us all.