RCMP TRAINED TO SPOT DRIVERS ON DRUGS

Members of the RCMP have extensive training when it comes to detecting
whether someone is operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs.

On Oct. 15, the provincial government made it law that anybody
suspected of driving under the influence of drugs could be given
licence suspensions prior to their day in court and could possibly be
charged.

Determining whether a driver is on an illegal substance depends on the
keen observational skills of RCMP officers, said Edson RCMP Sgt. Jim
Desautels.

He said members are trained to recognize the signs of drug impairment
such as a person's appearance and behavior when under the influence of
a certain drug.

An intoxilyzer, the device that detects alcohol level in the breath,
is ineffective when it comes to detection of drugs, Desautels said.

"It's very difficult to have an instrument that will determine which
drug a person is on [but] you always have the option to obtain a blood
sample. We can demand that if a situation warrants it."

He said the blood sample would then be sent to a laboratory in order
to determine the level of drug impairment.

Desautels said drugged driving charges come under Section 253A or B of
the Criminal Code, the same as operating a vehicle under the influence
of alcohol. Whether motorists can be charged the same as a suspected
drunk driver would depend on a variety of investigative factors,
Desautels said.

"There's a whole series of things we can do to make these
determinations." Diabetic shock is often mistaken by some people for
impaired driving, but, said Desautels, the RCMP are trained to tell
the difference between the two and it's not always easy to tell,
especially in the aftermath of a crash.

"I've been to many crashes where people have been in diabetic shock -
some very serious ones - and it's only later when you're able to
determine what exactly happened."

Desautels said regardless of who they pull over for roadside checks,
or a collision where drugs or alcohol is suspected, a thorough
investigation will usually determine the right outcome.

"When we show up, we conduct an investigation to rule out all
possibilities.

That's essentially what we do, is try and find out the truth."