Could roadside drug testing resume in Michigan?

LANSING, Michigan (WILX) – There are efforts underway in Michigan to identify drivers under the influence of drugs.

According to the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID), nearly 2,400 people have died across the state over the past decade at the hands of people who were too high or too drunk to drive.

“My parents were killed by a drugged driver in 2013,” said NASID spokesman Brian Swift. “Preliminary saliva samples. We're looking for someone who has done these things recently and is in the system, at a time when you're most impaired.”

This is a roadside drug test that is administered after sobriety tests and breathalyzer tests. The oral test checks for substances such as meth, cocaine and THC.

“For example, if you took a gummy bear to help you sleep at night or did something else two days ago, that won't register and that's not what we're looking for,” Swift said.

Criminal law professor Tom Holt expresses concern about the possibility of false positives.

“Whether it's over-the-counter cold remedies or even ibuprofen in some cases,” said Tom Holt of the MSU School of Criminal Justice.

In the past, these tests have not always provided an accurate picture of a person's level of intoxication, Holt says.

“The public must be clearly informed about what may happen and what their legal obligations and rights are.”

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