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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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PUB LTE: Drug-drive testing over the top Don Barnard East Anglian Daily Times Monday 06 Dec 1999 Pub Date: Monday 6 December 1999 PUB LTE: Drug Testing Drivers over the top Author: Don Barnard Contact: EADTLetters@ecn.co.uk . DRUG-DRIVE TESTING OVER THE TOP Police country-wide have given fair warning to festive drink drivers; I now give fair warning to those who use drugs and drive. Although driving under the influence of drugs is illegal, the police at present do not have specific powers for roadside drug testing. This is about to change. As part of the Government's road safety strategy, to be published later this month, police will be given the power to give roadside drug tests to motorists. Officers will be trained to spot symptoms of drug use and the test will include screening for illegal substances in saliva, and looking for dilated pupils and/or unusual body language. Ministers are also looking at including warning symbols on labels for prescription drugs which should not be used while driving - which should take all disabled people and hayfever sufferers off the road! Some 500,000 pass the breathalyser test every year; to drugs test these alone will cost £15-20 million annually. We are all hurt when resources are wasted in this way or laws modified to limit our rights. This new policy seems more than a little heavy-handed - especially since drug tests for impairment or recent use fail on their own terms! What do other readers think? DON BARNARD, Braintree, Essex
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