THOMAS WANTS TO MAKE IT A CRIME TO CHEAT ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTS

RALEIGH -- A state senator has introduced a bill aimed at making it a crime
for an individual or a business to sell urine samples to defraud drug and
alcohol tests.

"Businesses that engage in the practice of defrauding drug tests put our
citizens in harm's way," said Sen. Scott Thomas, a Craven County Democrat.
"This bill will subject those business and those who try to defraud a drug
test to criminal penalties."

Thomas introduced the bill on Tuesday.

He said the N.C. Truckers Association, the N.C. Manufacturers Association,
and N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry are backing the bill.

Attorney General Roy Cooper also endorses the bill.

"It's critical that people who have the responsibility for the safety of
others should be drug free," Cooper said.

He said that a Hendersonville company, Privacy Protection Services, is
selling urine kits designed to fool drug and alcohol tests.

"The only use for such a kit is to help someone who has been taking drugs
or alcohol to cheat on a drug test," he said.

Officials from Privacy Protection Services could not be reached for comment.

The company's Web site says that its kits will "allow anyone, regardless of
substance intake, to pass any urinalysis within minutes."

The Web site says the company offers a urine kit for $69 plus shipping
charges. The kit includes a tested, actual human urine sample.

"They sell you a specimen and a kit to keep it at the right temperature and
a kit to keep it hidden," Cooper said.

The company's Web page says it considers urine drug tests to be an invasion
of privacy.

It also says that it is not encouraging the use of drugs.

"In no way do we here at PPS advocate the use (of) illegal drugs, but we do
advocate that you exercise your civil liberties and protect your rights,"
the Web page says.