SENATE PASSES LAW TO DETERMINE STATE OF 'DRUGGED' DRIVERS

COLUMBUS | The Ohio Senate on Wednesday approved and sent to the House
legislation establishing legal standards for law enforcement officers
to use in testing and charging individuals suspected of driving under
the influence of drugs.

Sen. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, the sponsor, said that while
standards exist for determining driving under the influence of
alcohol, there currently are no standards for determining the level of
drugs such as marijuana and cocaine in an individual's system. Without
an established level of impairment, cases against individuals charged
with driving under the influence of drugs can vary from court to
court, he said. The vote was 30-1, with Senate Minority Leader C.J.
Prentiss, D-Cleveland, casting the only "no" vote.

Penalties would not apply the law to a person who had obtained a
controlled substance by a doctor's prescription and the person took
the substance as prescribed.

The bill would give law enforcement officers "the tools they need to
bring drugged drivers to justice and make our roads safe," said Austria.