New Years Eve - Free Drug Test in Los Angleles

[WildBill]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Local law enforcement has a new tool to crack down on drunken drivers over the New Year's holiday, and drivers could face instant drug tests at DUI checkpoints.
"If you drink or if you're using drugs, don't drive," said L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer.

The L.A. City Attorney's Office received a half-million-dollar federal grant to expand use of a device called the Drager 5000. A swab of saliva is taken from a driver, and within minutes the device analyzes the presence of cocaine, marijuana and other substances. A second saliva swab is taken for independent testing.

"We anticipate making a large number of DUI for alcohol- and drugs-related arrests on New Year's Eve," said LAPD Commander Andrew Smith. "We don't want to, but we're prepared to do so."

The federal money will also pay for two extra assistant district attorneys who will concentrate on DUI prosecution.

The LAPD says it will increase the number of DUI checkpoints leading up to the new year, and extra motorcycle and traffic officers will be patrolling the streets looking for impaired drivers.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?secti ... id=9374443" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jumping Frog]

Real-time, roadside drug testing is quite a technology advance. I don't want drivers using cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, designer amphetamines, opiates, or benzodiazepines any more than I want them driving drunk.

BTW, this is really going to upset the whole "medical" marijuana crowd. I wonder how long they will still test positive? I know from employer drug testing that it takes a couple weeks to clear the system.

Here is the equipment they are using: http://www.draeger.com/sites/enus_us/Pa ... ?navID=175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WildBill]

Real-time, roadside drug testing is quite a technology advance. I don't want drivers using cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, designer amphetamines, opiates, or benzodiazepines any more than I want them driving drunk.

BTW, this is really going to upset the whole "medical" marijuana crowd. I wonder how long they will still test positive? I know from employer drug testing that it takes a couple weeks to clear the system.

Here is the equipment they are using: http://www.draeger.com/sites/enus_us/Pa ... ?navID=175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The article stated that medical marijuana users are not exempt.

Officials say the crackdown includes medical marijuana.

"Even one who is legitimately permitted to have medical marijuana has to be very careful not to be driving under the influence, even of that lawful medication," said Feuer.

[Jumping Frog]

The article stated that medical marijuana users are not exempt.

Officials say the crackdown includes medical marijuana.

"Even one who is legitimately permitted to have medical marijuana has to be very careful not to be driving under the influence, even of that lawful medication," said Feuer.

Yes, I saw that. However, the article didn't explicitly cover the point I was making, that medical marijuana or not, smoking weed a week ago will still get you a positive test and arrested today. It essentially means that medical marijuana users that smoke even once a week will never have a time window when they are going to test cleanly. They essentially will never be able to drive without risk of arrest.

Now, I haven't smoked marijuana for over 30 years, but I can still recall that if I smoke on Friday night, my driving was not going to be impaired going to work on Monday morning. However, the world has changed in 30 years.

[WildBill]

The article stated that medical marijuana users are not exempt.

Officials say the crackdown includes medical marijuana.

"Even one who is legitimately permitted to have medical marijuana has to be very careful not to be driving under the influence, even of that lawful medication," said Feuer.

Yes, I saw that. However, the article didn't explicitly cover the point I was making, that medical marijuana or not, smoking weed a week ago will still get you a positive test and arrested today. It essentially means that medical marijuana users that smoke even once a week will never have a time window when they are going to test cleanly. They essentially will never be able to drive without risk of arrest.

Now, I haven't smoked marijuana for over 30 years, but I can still recall that if I smoke on Friday night, my driving was not going to be impaired going to work on Monday morning. However, the world has changed in 30 years.

It is true that one can test positive [drugs/chemicals in their system], but not be impaired.

Marijuana will show up in the system for days after the last use.

I don't know if shows up longer in a blood, urine, or saliva test samples. Testing of hair tests can also be used to test for drug usage.

I don't know how the courts will handle this type of evidence.

Even though this type of testing may be convenient for law enforcement, I have reservations about the accuracy and use of the results.

For example, the Draeger website shows that preliminary testing on their instruments for THC [marijuana] was only 50% accurate.

[texanjoker]

In my experiance weed doesn't show on saliva tests past 12 hours let alone a week. Certain Texas agencies like CPS use oral swabs and I have seen people stoned out of their mind test clean for weed. Now it works good for crack heads and tweekers. Maybe this is better technology, we will see.

[rbwhatever1]

Ha! Had to google "tweeker". I thought that was a Miley Cyrus thing.

[JSThane]

I seem to remember something about "search and seizure" and "probable cause" in the Constitution...

...but that's a "living document" written by "dead guys" and therefore can be "reinterpreted" to show it does not apply here.

Grrrrrr. Pox on them all. I wanna go back to America.

[CoffeeNut]

Are they forcing tests on everyone at the checkpoint or just those who don't answer the questions coherently? Just curious because I've never been through one.

[WildBill]

Are they forcing tests on everyone at the checkpoint or just those who don't answer the questions coherently? Just curious because I've never been through one.

I have not either. Maybe we will find out on January 1st, 2014.

[Dragonfighter]

Are they forcing tests on everyone at the checkpoint or just those who don't answer the questions coherently? Just curious because I've never been through one.

I have not either. Maybe we will find out on January 1st, 2014.

I thought sobriety checkpoints were deemed unconstitutional and discontinued, or is that just Texas?

I remember them and I always got a glance and a wave on, even long haired and bearded. But I saw plenty who weren't.

[WildBill]

Are they forcing tests on everyone at the checkpoint or just those who don't answer the questions coherently? Just curious because I've never been through one.

I have not either. Maybe we will find out on January 1st, 2014.

I thought sobriety checkpoints were deemed unconstitutional and discontinued, or is that just Texas?

I remember them and I always got a glance and a wave on, even long haired and bearded. But I saw plenty who weren't.

I believe that they are still legal in Texas.

[rbwhatever1]

Texas is one of the few States where DUI Checkpoints remain unconstitutional regardless of the wishes of some Legislator's and the Supreme Court Decision that ruled "DUI Checkpoints are only a small violation of the US Constitution" so they can be allowed.

[MeMelYup]

Texas is one of the few States where DUI Checkpoints remain unconstitutional regardless of the wishes of some Legislator's and the Supreme Court Decision that ruled "DUI Checkpoints are only a small violation of the US Constitution" so they can be allowed.

A small violation is still a violation and should not be condoned. Gun laws that prohibit certain guns are small violations. Each speech laws that prohibit a freedom of speech are small violations. They pass enough small violations of a freedom, you no longer have that freedom. Look at California, New York and Connecticut gun control laws.

[GlockDude26]

I seem to remember something about "search and seizure" and "probable cause" in the Constitution...

...but that's a "living document" written by "dead guys" and therefore can be "reinterpreted" to show it does not apply here.

Grrrrrr. Pox on them all. I wanna go back to America.

I can only hope that someone with enough pull in the libertarian movement that is increasing across the country can get in the white house and hopefully turn some of this mess around.