Drugged Driving

LAW WILL ADD DANGER TO OUR ROADS

In response to Lawrie Palk's letter, "New legislation can save
lives," Nov. 17: Not likely! Palk, Co-chair of the Brant-Brantford
Impaired Driving Committee, ought to be careful what he wishes for;
he just might get what he wants and a whole lot of unintended results to boot.

Let me explain: a driver is driving along and for whatever reason,
flagged over. Now the driver strongly suspects the officer could
request the driver submit to a drug driving test, and, even though
the driver may not be in possession of any drugs, or recently
consumed any, the driver knows such a test will reveal the cannabis
smoked last week.

The driver also knows that if somehow the driver's place of work gets
wind of the charge or conviction, there goes 1. the job, 2. the
ability to be bonded (in some instances) and 3. the child custodial
rights (in some instances.) In an instant of panic, the driver
accelerates instead of braking - right into another vehicle.

Now, forget any notion that the aforementioned scenario could only
apply in limited and specific situations, because such is not the
case. The potential for a myriad of variables all amounting to the
same end result will occur every time the occasion for police to pull
over a driver arises. It will not, and cannot, be avoided.

One can cite inferences to object lessons on the evils of cannabis
learned (or otherwise) till the cows come home. It will never alter
the fact that this dangerous and idiotic drug driving law is courtesy
of the Conservatives' dysfunctional Tough on Crime strategy.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton