Illinois Police to Begin Roadside Drug Testing

 Posted on January 08, 2018 in DUI/DWI

Getting behind the wheel in Illinois while under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs is illegal. However, for the past few decades educational campaigns aimed at deterring drivers from driving under the influence have focused almost exclusively on the evils of drunk driving while largely ignoring the various problems associated with driving while under the influence of drugs. Perhaps this is because, up until recently, police officers have had a reliable tool at their disposal to detect alcohol in a driver’s system (the breathalyzer) while they lacked such an instrument to conduct roadside testing for drugs. However, it seems that this is about to change as at least one Illinois police department plans to begin roadside drug testing in the upcoming months.

The New Test

According to the Chicago Tribune, Carol Stream police officers plan to be the first department in Illinois to implement a new roadside test to determine if drivers are under the influence of one or more drugs. Reportedly, the new roadside test will be able to detect marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, amphetamines, and opiates such as heroin via a chemical test.

The new test will be very similar to the roadside breath tests that police officers currently use; however, instead of blowing into a breathalyzer a suspected impaired driver will havehis or her mouth swabbed. Many European countries, as well as a handful of American states, are already using similar roadside tests to determine whether a driver is under the influence of a controlled substance.

How do Police Officers Currently Determine if a Driver is on Drugs?

Currently, an Illinois police officer who suspects a driver of being under the influence of a controlled substance has the option of seeking a blood or urine sample from the driver which can then be tested for drugs. Still, such a sample must be collected and tested at a police station which means that there is often significant lag-time between pulling the driver over and determining if he or she is in fact under the influence of one or more drugs.

Furthermore, these tests are quite expensive. In contrast, the new drug test that is about to be rolled out in Illinois can be administered on the side of the road, will be less expensive and will tell police officers how much of a particular drug is present in a driver’s system (rather than simply indicating whether or not a drug is present).

Need Legal Advice?

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Illinois and are looking to protect your legal rights, contact experienced Rolling Meadows DUI defense lawyer Christopher Cosley without delay. At The Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley we defend clients from all walks of life against DUI charges. You do not have to take on the daunting task of fighting your DUI charge alone. Contact us today for help.

Source:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-police-drug-driving-test-20171205-story.html