EVEN WITHOUT DRUGS, TWO OUT OF FOUR FAIL

Dave Meins' knees start shaking. His arms fly up in the air to help
him balance. But the 69-year-old fulltime farmer wobbles, then
topples over. He doesn't look stoned - but a test he failed suggests otherwise.

The Waiotira man doesn't smoke cannabis and swears he had just a can
of lemonade for lunch before failing a mock drug test conducted by
the Northern Advocate.

Based on one police propose to use from next year on drivers they
suspect have used drugs, the test included walking a straight line,
balancing with eyes shut, touching the nose with eyes shut and
standing on one leg.

"It sounds easy but seriously that is very hard to do. If that test
was suddenly sprung on you and you were under pressure it could give
a false impression to a police officer," Mr Meins said. It was the
same for 90-year-old Gwen Venables who struggles to walk in a straight line.

"Oh I'm all wobble today," she exclaimed.

Still able to drive her own car, Mrs Venables said she had never been
involved with drugs and didn't drink. She welcomed the police
initiative to weed out drivers using drugs.

Terry Mackie, 20, breezed through the test but admitted being
surprised at feeling "a bit wobbly" when he shut his eyes and leaned back.

Balancing on one leg proved no problem for Whangarei teenager Adele
Sergeant. She favoured testing "because people on drugs shouldn't be
on the roads".