NEW DRUG TESTING RULES ON HOLD IN PARRY SOUND

PARRY SOUND - It's business as usual for local OPP officers despite
new legislation mandating driver's submit to drug testing when asked.

On July 2, new legislation took effect requiring drivers who police
suspect of driving while impaired by drugs (prescription, over the
counter, or illegal) to provide a sample of either saliva, urine or
blood for testing. Previously, a person suspected of driving while
impaired by drugs could refuse to submit to the testing.

In this area though, there's no drug recognition expert on staff to
collect the samples, according to police.

"The OPP, right now they are in the process of training officers for
that," said Constable Lisa Ryan. "It doesn't mean (someone) can't be
stopped and charged and taken in."

Based on roadside sobriety tests officers already do, she said a
person driving while on drugs can still face impaired driving charges.

Drugs can have the same effect as alcohol on a person's driving
ability, she said.

Similar to alcohol impairment

"It can be very similar to that of impaired by alcohol, your vision
can be impaired, your reaction time can be impaired," said Const. Ryan.

The Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse reported that drugs and
alcohol were involved in 30 per cent of fatal car accidents in Canada
and, based on a 2004 study, five per cent of Canadians admit to
driving within two hours of using marijuana, according to police. A
tip-off for officers trying to determine whether a person is driving
while on drugs includes the classic indicator of drunk driving,
swerving on the road. An officer can require a roadside sobriety
test, including balancing on one leg, she said.

"(Through) training and experience in the field, recognizing what is
normal in a person," said Const. Ryan of detecting drugged drivers.
"You could ask them for their license and they could fumble through
their wallet and hand you a credit card."

If convicted, a first time offender faces a minimum $1,000 fine, a
second conviction nets up to 30 days in jail, and any subsequent
conviction is a minimum of 120 days behind bars.

"I don't think people consider it as serious a problem," said Const.
Ryan. "Even with prescription drugs, people can be impaired and out
driving. It can be overlooked, which it shouldn't because it's just
as dangerous."