COPS TO BLITZ DRUG-DRIVERS

Random drug-driving tests will be introduced in Victoria in a pre-Christmas
road blitz.

Truck drivers travelling to and from Melbourne's docks as well as
late-night partygoers are expected to be among the first tested.

Inspector Martin Boorman, of the police Traffic Alcohol section, said a new
drug-testing device allowing police to check for cannabis and
methamphetamines (known as speed) in motorists' saliva would be in use
state-wide by December.

He said police would focus on roadside drug testing of people leaving rave
and dance parties and heavy vehicle drivers on highways and at ports.

The crackdown will start in the early hours as revellers leave parties.

Insp Boorman warned: "We have a target date of December 1 and if people are
going to take drugs and drive, they will be caught.

"We are currently examining eight drug-testing machines and we expect to
make a decision soon on which will best meet our needs."

Motorists pulled over would first face a 30-second breath test.

They would then have to give a saliva sample for on-the-spot analysis in a
process taking about four minutes in all.

Insp Boorman went on: "If the result is positive, the motorist will be
taken to the drug bus for further testing, which will take another 15 minutes."

A second positive result would see the sample sent for laboratory analysis.
A positive finding there could see it used as evidence in court.

A first offence carries a $600 fine and licence suspension for up to three
months.

Cannabis can stay in a user's system for up to eight hours and
methamphetamines for up to 16 hours. Insp Boorman said the drug testing
regime would mainly target heavy vehicles and dance and rave parties, and
be used in conjunction with random alcohol testing.

"But they will be used everywhere . . . in the suburbs and country towns."

Police will continue to check for other drugs - such as heroin and GHB --
through existing processes, which let officers take urine or blood samples
from drivers who fail impairment assessments.

Drugs were detected in almost a third of Victorian drivers killed in road
accidents last year.

In the past three years, 450 motorists have been prosecuted for driving
while on drugs.

About 9000 motorists are expected to be tested under the state's
world-first drug-testing regime.

As with random breath testing for alcohol, police will not need reasonable
suspicion to drug-test drivers -- unlike officers in Europe.