STONED DRIVERS ALSO TARGET OF CHECKSTOP

When Winnipeg police kick off the December Checkstop program tonight,
officers won't just be looking for drunks, they'll also be watching
for stoned drivers and motorists high on prescription drugs or
over-the-counter medication. That's because driving while under the
influence of drugs -- legal substances or otherwise -- is just as
hazardous as drinking and driving, said Winnipeg police patrol Sgt.
Rob Riffel.

"In some cases, it can be worse," he said.

Marijuana, for example, can have a debilitating toll on a
driver.

"Marijuana is a hallucinogen," Riffel explained. "It affects
time-distance perception. It affects all systems of the body. Your
reflexes are slower, just like with alcohol."

There are four Winnipeg police officers who are drug recognition
experts (DRE). And they've nabbed a wide range of impaired drivers in
recent months -- from those who puffed on a joint before hitting the
road to those who overdosed on Benadryl, a popular
antihistamine.

"I don't think it's getting any worse. Our skills are getting better
at picking it out," Riffel said.

This holiday season's Checkstop program, which runs until Jan. 1,
2005, will see officers checking motorists leaving licensed premises,
house parties, office parties and a variety of other events, said
Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Bob Johnson.

"Experience has taught the police service the best times and locations
to deploy the Checkstop program and we have arranged our setups to
reflect those trends," Johnson said.

And contrary to popular belief, officers will be stopping motorists
long after 1 or 2 a.m.

"The Checkstop unit will be out there until the wee hours of the
morning," Johnson said.

Last December, police pulled over more than 7,000 vehicles and
conducted 377 Alcohol Screening Device (ASD) tests.

Twenty-one motorists failed the test and were charged with impaired
driving.

Cops also issued 57 24-hour driver's licence suspensions to motorists
who blew a blood-alcohol level reading of between .05 and .08.

SPOTTING THE DRUGGIES

The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation is a voluntary 12-step
standardized procedure for determining impairment by drugs or a drug
and alcohol combination.

- - A breath test to rule out alcohol as the major cause of impairment;

- - An interview of the arresting officer by the drug recognition expert;

- - A preliminary examination of the subject;

- - An eye examination;

- - A series of divided-attention tests;

- - The examination of vital signs;

- - A darkroom examination of pupil sizes;

- - A check of muscle tone;

- - An examination of typical injection sites on the person's body;

- - The rendering of an opinion by the drug recognition expert;

- - An interview with the subject;

- - And the provision of a bodily fluid sample.

- -- Canada Justice Department