VANCOUVER POLICE APPLAUD LEGISLATION TO MAKE LIFE TOUGHER FOR STONED
DRIVERS

Proposed federal 'drug-driving' legislation that will crack down on
those who smoke marijuana and drive is a step in the right direction,
say police.

"Anything that's going to take impaired drivers, be it from alcohol
or drugs, off our streets ...is something we firmly support," said
Const. Howard Chow, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department.

The legislation, introduced Nov. 21 by justice minister Vic Toews,
would require drivers suspected of being high to pass a roadside
sobriety test. If they fail, drivers would be sent to a police
station and forced to provide a sample of bodily fluid.

Brandon Steele, manager of Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture
Headquarters, said the legislation is unfair and only makes it easier
for police to make arrests. "There should never be a set standard of
'this is in your system so you're going to jail'. That doesn't make
sense," he said.

Chow said the procedure is not so cutand-dry. "When we charge
somebody for being impaired because of drugs, it's not always
necessary to check their system for drugs. We first have to establish
that their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired."

Officers trained to be drug recognition experts are called to the
scene when a driver is suspected of being under the influence of
drugs, Chow said.

Iryna Kolesnyk, a Langara biology student, said tougher legislation
is a good idea because it will make impaired drivers think twice
before getting behind the wheel. "It's their personal choice [to get
high], but if they're compromising others that's not a good thing."