Mr-E-man
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- Sep 30, 2003
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Drug-taking drivers may face roadside saliva test
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor
April 15, 2004
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/14/1081838794954.html
NSW motorists could soon be pulled over and tested for drugs by being told to submit a saliva sample in the style of random breath testing.
The Roads and Traffic Authority and NSW Police will monitor roadside trials of drug test swabs which will be carried out in Victoria. If successful, a drug test trial could begin in NSW by the end of the year.
But civil libertarians are concerned that the tests could be an invasion of privacy and an unnecessary inconvenience.
A spokesman for the NSW Police Minister, John Watkins, said last night: "We're watching the development of the legislation closely in Victoria and we will evaluate their trial as soon as possible."
Across the state each year about 1000 motorists are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs after taking a blood test, compared with about 24,000 arrested for drink-driving each year.
But highway patrol officers say they would catch many more drivers under the influence of drugs if the testing procedure was simpler.
Methods being considered include a ice-block-style stick or a paper swab which drivers would suck or chew. There are also aerosols and swabs which can detect traces of drugs through skin pores on a person's arm. In each case, the material used changes colour when traces of amphetamines or cannabis are found.
"At the moment [testing for drugs] is a complex, time-consuming procedure and you have to first determine that a driver behaving erratically is not affected by alcohol, then you can submit them to a blood test," the Commander of Traffic Services, Superintendent John Hartley, said.
Highway patrol officers say the introduction of random drug testing is overdue. "A lot of younger people drink water when they go out to party but take a mouthful of drugs," one officer said. "They're just as dangerous [as drunk drivers] . . . but they're getting away with it."
The Victorian trial will begin in July and last for a year.
A spokesman for Victoria Police said the department has put the supply of its swabs out to tender. NSW Police and the RTA yesterday refused to say when the swabs were expected to be tested on NSW motorists but the Herald understands a trial is imminent.
The president of the Council for Civil Liberties, Cameron Murphy, said: "We believe the devices dubious in terms of accuracy and their use becomes problematic for people who may be on legitimate medication."
In Victoria, the draft legislation stipulates that the swabs may only be used to test for drugs and must not be retained for DNA testing.
However, an editorial in the autumn edition of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner's newsletter expressed some concerns: "Giving a saliva sample is inherently more invasive of bodily privacy than blowing into a tube."
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This could begin by christmas !!!!!!!
I am very concerned about what effect this will have on people who have had some pot/other drugs the day before and are on their way to work the next day totaly straight but with traces still in their system.
Im scared
Mr Man
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor
April 15, 2004
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/14/1081838794954.html
NSW motorists could soon be pulled over and tested for drugs by being told to submit a saliva sample in the style of random breath testing.
The Roads and Traffic Authority and NSW Police will monitor roadside trials of drug test swabs which will be carried out in Victoria. If successful, a drug test trial could begin in NSW by the end of the year.
But civil libertarians are concerned that the tests could be an invasion of privacy and an unnecessary inconvenience.
A spokesman for the NSW Police Minister, John Watkins, said last night: "We're watching the development of the legislation closely in Victoria and we will evaluate their trial as soon as possible."
Across the state each year about 1000 motorists are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs after taking a blood test, compared with about 24,000 arrested for drink-driving each year.
But highway patrol officers say they would catch many more drivers under the influence of drugs if the testing procedure was simpler.
Methods being considered include a ice-block-style stick or a paper swab which drivers would suck or chew. There are also aerosols and swabs which can detect traces of drugs through skin pores on a person's arm. In each case, the material used changes colour when traces of amphetamines or cannabis are found.
"At the moment [testing for drugs] is a complex, time-consuming procedure and you have to first determine that a driver behaving erratically is not affected by alcohol, then you can submit them to a blood test," the Commander of Traffic Services, Superintendent John Hartley, said.
Highway patrol officers say the introduction of random drug testing is overdue. "A lot of younger people drink water when they go out to party but take a mouthful of drugs," one officer said. "They're just as dangerous [as drunk drivers] . . . but they're getting away with it."
The Victorian trial will begin in July and last for a year.
A spokesman for Victoria Police said the department has put the supply of its swabs out to tender. NSW Police and the RTA yesterday refused to say when the swabs were expected to be tested on NSW motorists but the Herald understands a trial is imminent.
The president of the Council for Civil Liberties, Cameron Murphy, said: "We believe the devices dubious in terms of accuracy and their use becomes problematic for people who may be on legitimate medication."
In Victoria, the draft legislation stipulates that the swabs may only be used to test for drugs and must not be retained for DNA testing.
However, an editorial in the autumn edition of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner's newsletter expressed some concerns: "Giving a saliva sample is inherently more invasive of bodily privacy than blowing into a tube."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This could begin by christmas !!!!!!!
I am very concerned about what effect this will have on people who have had some pot/other drugs the day before and are on their way to work the next day totaly straight but with traces still in their system.
Im scared
Mr Man
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
