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  • AADD Moderators: swilow | Vagabond696

Roadside Drug Testing (WA)

People caught driving with illicit drugs in their systems face fines ranging from $200 and three demerit points for a first offence to $500 and three months' suspension for a third and subsequent offences.

????

Someone explain that to me.... some stoners will have cannabinoids in their system for months even if they stopped. Im asking because it sounds totally different to:

Penalties for driving while drug-impaired range from $800 and a six-month licence disqualification to a $5000 fine, 18 months' imprisonment and a permanent licence disqualification.
 
That doesn't make sense to me either....

You mean they now have a black and white answer and a test to differentiate the difference between having drugs in the system and a being impaired by those drugs?
 
I would assume the 'People caught driving with illicit drugs in their systems' would be the ones that return a positive result through their preliminary roadside saliva test which would then be further supported by the lab analysed blood or saliva sample.

As for individuals driving while drug-impaired - I would suggest this would either be based on a subjective assessment made by the arresting officer as to a level of impairment suffered by the driver based on set guidelines. Alternatively, when the blood or saliva specimen is sent for lab analysis, pre determined cut off levels would be an indication of impairment suffered by the driver - similar to low, mid and high range drink driving limits.
 
Yeah Would have to. But as we all know the media arewn't very good at getting the the point and giving out the correct facts
 
cobaltdemon said:
i would be really interested actually, to know exactly what an "impairment test" involves. i can't recite the alphabet backwards even when i'm stone cold sober.

does victoria have these impairment tests or is it something us special west coasters have dreamed up?
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There are a couple of companies that I know of who are currently trying to develop a computer based impairment test. Recently witnessed some people playing around with a prototype on a laptop; wasn't really that impressed with it. Still a fair way off as far as gauging impairment levels, as the results seemed to vary across the various drug affected individuals. Although they had a good excuse to get really wasted in the interests of science.

My understanding is that the powers that be, will see all patrol cars with an impairment test computer on board. At least in NSW anyway.

I can't help but be extremely cynical when it comes to this whole phenomena of roadside drug testing in Australia. There is an enormous amount of money to be made by the various companies in providing the technology to police these initiatives. Despite the suspect science involved.
 
New test targets drug drivers
Nicole Cox
June 30, 2007 11:00am

0,,5547453,00.jpg

DRUG DRIVER TEST: Senior Constable Frank Ryan with the drug testing kit police will use to test drug-drivers.

THESE are the state-of-the-art devices that police say will help them win the war against drugged drivers.

Police unveiled the saliva drug-testing kits for The Sunday Times this week, ahead of the illicit amphetamine summit on Tuesday.

Supt Nigel White said the roadside tests would give police the ability to snare doped-up drivers who compromised community safety.

"Police have been looking forward to these tests for quite some time,'' he said. "We know there is a problem out in the community with drugs, but one of the biggest issues is people driving drug-impaired and the difficulties in detecting that.''

Under the new laws, police will be able to take a sample of saliva as a preliminary roadside test. If the test is positive, a further saliva sample will be analysed in the portable lab.

The testing kits will target amphetamines and ecstasy, as well as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

The State Government has awarded a tender for the preliminary German-made Securetec screening tests, while the $10,000 portable laboratory kit, used to check positive tests, has been provided by British company Cozart.

To ward against discrepancies, the WA Chemistry Centre will cross-check all positive drug test results for the first year of roadside drug tests.

The State Government had hoped the testing would start by today. But delays in finalising the tender and constructing the new "BAD'' (breath and drug testing) bus mean tests will not begin until late August or early September.

People caught driving with illicit drugs in their system face fines ranging from $200 and three demerit points for a first offence to $500 and three months' suspension for a third and subsequent offence.

Penalties for driving while drug-impaired range from $800 and a six-month loss of licence to a $5000 fine, 18 months' jail and a permanent licence disqualification
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Perth Now
 
Question: Does anyone know how dexamphetamine will register on this test? I have seen it discussed elsewhere but can't remember...
 
Roadside tests to target drug drivers
2nd July 2007, 12:15 WST

Motorists driving with illicit drugs in their system will have less chance of getting away with it from September, when WA police will have the technology to carry out roadside drug tests.

A purpose-built $2.3 million Breath And Drug, or “BAD” bus, along with 12,000 roadside drug testing kits, will be at police disposal to combat the growing presence of drugs in the community.

Last year, 25 per cent of people killed in road fatalities in WA had traces of one or more illicit drugs in their system.

The new kits will be capable of detecting cannabis, ecstasy and methamphetamine from drivers’ saliva within five minutes.

Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said about 20 per cent of BAD bus operations would be in regional WA.

“Just like alcohol, drugs have the potential to seriously impair driving ability and dramatically increase crash risks,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“Testing will be targeted and officers will be trained to identify drivers who are drug affected or impaired.”

Premier Alan Carpenter said time was running out for people who put themselves and others in danger by driving under the influence of illicit substances.

As part of the roadside test, motorists will be required to wipe two small pads along their tongue.

For the first 12 months of the program, secondary samples will be sent to the WA Chemistry Centre for confirmation.

Penalties will range from $200 for a first offence, to $800 and a six month licence disqualification for severely drug affected motorists.
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The West Australian
 
yossarian_is_sane! said:
Question: Does anyone know how dexamphetamine will register on this test? I have seen it discussed elsewhere but can't remember...
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i've found the original bill tabled in parliament about roadside drug testing here:
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/(Lookup+by+Page)/20060512069129?opendocument

the passage of interest being:

For practical reasons, it is necessary to exclude dexamphetamine, benzodiazepines and all drugs containing opiates. Despite the fact that in some cases these drugs do constitute a road safety concern, they are legally available for therapeutic use and for this reason roadside screening is impractical. At this point in time, roadside screening technology is not able to accurately differentiate between heroin, codeine, prescription pain medication and some over-the-counter medications. Therefore, for the purpose of random drug testing in Western Australia, it is proposed that, similar to other Australian jurisdictions, the regime will be limited to THC - tetrahydrocannabinol; methamphetamine, known as speed; and MDMA - methylenedioxy-methamphetamine - known as ecstasy. The oral fluid tests will not detect the presence of prescription drugs, common over-the-counter medication or ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - medication.
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i dont know about anyone else but i'm having real difficulty finding any scientific information about the testing in relation to WA specifically, anyone know of any non media sources? the WA police website has nothing..
 
also from the same document i posted a link to above, found here:
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/(Lookup+by+Page)/20060512069129?opendocument

is a fairly comprehensive answer to just what constitutes "drug impairment"

If a police officer suspects a driver to be impaired, the driver will be required to undergo a preliminary breath test to rule out impairment by alcohol. If this preliminary breath test does not show an illegal alcohol level, a driver impairment assessment will be carried out by police. The driver impairment assessment will be observation based with standardised recording of the conduct, appearance and condition of the person. If an impairment assessment indicates that a driver is impaired, the driver will be required to provide a blood sample. The result of a subsequent blood test will underpin expert opinion provided by an experienced clinical pharmacologist. Drivers will be charged and prosecuted when expert opinion supports the police and toxicology evidence.
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Regions unlikely to get immediate drug driving crackdown
Posted July 5, 2007 13:22:00


Police say new equipment to catch people driving under the influence of drugs is unlikely to be deployed in Western Australian regional areas until at least next year.

From September, officers will be able to detect people driving under the influence of cannabis, ecstasy or amphetamines using the state's first drug bus.

Superintendent Nigel White says there is evidence that drug driving is a significant issue, particularly in mining towns such as Kalgoorlie.

However, he says that while field kits and specialist officers will eventually be deployed to regional centres when local police indicate drug driving is an issue, police efforts will initially be concentrated in Perth.

"I wouldn't want to make any promises at this stage, because certainly with the bus coming on board around September, we're going to be pretty much concentrating on some of the main areas, Fremantle, Northbridge and the main entertainment areas, as you can imagine," he said.
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ABC Online
 
I guess this is fair enough that they are doing something about it. Surely a lot of people must drive under the influence, you only need to look at the number of cars parked at a large festival.

Coming from an outer suburb, I can recall many occasions when friends would drive home after a night out. Simply because getting a taxi is very difficult at that time of day.


As for the questioning of where you got the drugs you are on...
I would hope a lot of people would have the sense to say something like:
err, officer, I dont know the person at all, its just a middle aged man that I met for the first time when I was in <insert your most hated RnB full of gangster wannabees nightclub here> last weekend.
 
tadfish said:
what happens if you are prescribed dexies?
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the testing kits wont be able to detect dexamphetamine, it is structurally different to methamphetamine, which is the only form that will make you test positive (acording to the official bill tabled in parliament).

i do keep seeing the media reporting that the test will pick up "amphetamines" but perhaps most reporters dont realise that it is chemically different to meth and use it as an interchangable term
 
is their a time frame on when the tests become void eg. how long does it stay in your saliva ?
 
Gee i would hate to be the younger generation these myspace generation. those teens growing up these days i am sorry we wrecked it for you.
Man the people in there teens (I am 24) are so soft these days and it only gets softer. You guys have to go through so much to get your P plates and can't get away with doing burnouts cause of hoon laws u can't now take drugs etc.
 
dynamo said:
is their a time frame on when the tests become void eg. how long does it stay in your saliva ?
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Around 24 hours from what I have read.
 
Has anyone investigated the intense mouth washes that supposedly give you 30 -40 mins of swab test immunity?

I don't condone driving under the influence of chems or alcohol, but I ahem, know a guy who has been driving stoned for 15 years with no problems whatsoever who will leave WA and never come back if he get busted for THC.
 
its a hard thing to know on time frame coz i dunno how many times ive woken up and gone strait to the shop for a powerade coz of mega dries but if its 24 hrs il have to stick with cordial
 
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