TOOLS NEEDED TO FIGHT HIGH DRIVERS

Local stakeholders are encouraged by the Prime Minister's announcement
Friday to crack down on drug-impaired drivers, but many challenges lie
ahead.

"Anything we can do to make our roads safer is certainly going to be
supported by the police community," said Sgt. Randy Youngman of the
Medicine Hat Police Service.

"Unfortunately, one of our main problems is technology hasn't caught
up with the needs of the community. For alcohol we've got
breathalyzers, but to the best of my knowledge, there isn't a
breathalyzer for cocaine or anything like that," Youngman added.

The initiative has received national support from Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD), and local MADD President Sylvia Takacs is
hopeful legislation is put into place.

Takacs has seen drug-impaired drivers during checkstops MADD performs
with the police, and has seen the police have their hands tied.

"There's nothing they can do except give them a 24-hour suspension
just to get them off the road," Takacs said.

MADD has been lobbying for tougher legislation for drug-impaired
drivers for several years, Takacs explained, which has been met with
resistance.

"(During one meeting) I brought up this very thing, that they should
make it a criminal offence to refuse a blood sample or urine sample to
test for drugs and his reply to me at that time was, that it could be
an infringement on their civil rights, and my response was what about
my civil right to be safe."

From a policing perspective, Youngman says that a lot will depend on
what is in the new law.

"They could make it similar to an alcohol-impaired driving, where you
don't have to take a breath test either. I can demand you take one if
I've got proper grounds, but just the fact if you refuse one that's an
offence itself," he said.

Another challenge is determining the grounds to demand a test,
Youngman explains. In the case of alcohol, if a police officer smells
alcohol or notices erratic driving those are grounds to demand a
breathalyzer test.

"If we catch someone driving and smoking a joint, that's pretty easy,
and marijuana itself leaves a tell-tale smell. But to a coke user or
somebody that's taken too many prescription drugs we don't have that
obvious cue to go on," he said.

In Friday's announcement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that
the new legislation would also provide police with resources to detect
drug-impaired drivers, while acknowledging technological challenges
for drug testing.

Takacs is hopeful that this legislation will be put into place because
"it's better late than not at all," and that police are provided the
tools to properly enforce the legislation.

Youngman agrees that this is a problem that needs to be dealt with.

"It's a problem we'd love to have the tools to fight."