DOPERS HIT THE ROAD

Lots Of Drug-Impaired Drivers

Druggie drivers are flooding Edmonton's streets in ever-higher
numbers, and the problem is likely worse than police can detect,
according to a drug-recognition officer.

Police have slapped 271 high drivers with 24-hour suspensions already
this year - before the busy holiday season - while only 200 were
handed out all of last year.

New measures allowing cops to bust drug-impaired drivers on the spot
likely don't account for the increased number, according to Const. Ian
Brooks, one of the city's seven drug recognition experts (DREs).

"The increase is there," he said.

And the problem is likely worse than numbers would
show.

"Unfortunately, if we put more people out there, there would just be
more (drivers) caught," he added.

Part of the problem may be education, Brooks said.

The 271 drug-related suspensions represent only a small portion of the
2,300 suspensions issued, including alcohol-impaired cases.

But Brooks said that people who think driving high is different than
driving drunk are fooling themselves.

There's no question - cannabis has similar blurring, reaction-slowing
effects as alcohol.

"People have this Hollywood, Cheech and Chong idea that, 'I'm a safer
driver when I'm high,' " said Brooks.

And high drivers should also know police are better equipped than ever
to catch them in the act.

As of July 2, a bill of Parliament allows officers to demand a
sobriety test, similar to the way they can tag drunks.

Before, police had a hard time handing out anything more than a
24-hour suspension.

Seven officers are certified in drug detection and can be called to
the scene in order to demand bloodwork.

Cops can also get warrants for blood samples taken at hospital after
an accident.

Fines for drug- and alcohol-impaired driving are the same.