DRUGGED DRIVERS: LAWS ON IMPAIRMENT MUST BE CLARIFIED

In an accident off of I-94 near Kenosha, a driver and three passengers
were critically injured. A 15-year-old was killed. The driver had no
alcohol, but he had Ecstasy and marijuana in his system, according to
the criminal complaint.

It's illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The
police, prosecutors and toxicologists say "we don't know" how much
marijuana a person has to smoke to be "under the influence" - or how
much cocaine, or how much Ecstasy ("Lack of legal standards impedes
prosecution of drugged drivers," March 26).

Since when was it ever legal to have any amount of these drugs in your
system at any time, especially when driving? In court, officers need
to be able to give juries corroborating information to prove that the
drugs caused impairment in the driver. How is that possible under the
current laws?

Something must be done.

Rosalie Uebelacker,
Brown Deer