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All fifty states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation specifically targeting drugged drivers. Troublingly, few motorists know that Drugged Driving is a crime, and there are not enough law enforcement officers or public education activities that are actively engaged in raising the profile of this epidemic problem. To reduce Drugged Driving, the police and the communities will have to make it known that Drugged Driving will not be tolerated.

First and foremost there is a need for tough and enforceable Drugged Driving laws. Second, the public needs to become educated about the laws and their consequences. Finally, the police need an accurate and valid method of determining drug impairment in a driver so that drugged drivers can be taken off the streets and charged with Drugged Driving

The Laws | Awareness | Drug Testing


The Laws

Many states have adopted tough and enforceable per se Drugged Driving legislation. The per se statute makes any detectable level of drugs in a drivers system a prosecutable offense. The current laws in states without a per se standard make it difficult or nearly impossible for drugged drivers to be identified, prosecuted, and convicted of impaired driving.

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Awareness

Awareness of the magnitude and seriousness of the Drugged Driving epidemic must be raised within the law enforcement community. The police need to be engaged in educating the public and especially the younger drivers about the risks of Driving Drugged. It should be widely understood among the driving public that police are actively seeking out and arresting drugged drivers. To this end, police departments have to train and employ more Drug Recognition Experts to patrol the streets and apprehend drugged drivers before they do harm to themselves and others. There are currently 44 DRE states participating in the program with over 7,500 DRE's and instructors.

The more visible the police are in stopping and arresting drugged drivers, and the more they make it clear that Drugged Driving is impermissible, the sooner drivers will understand that Drugged Driving is unacceptable

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Drug Testing
Brand New Mobile Drug Testing Labs Work to Catch Drugged Drivers in Australia

To accurately determine whether impairment in a motorist is the result of illegal drugs, drug testing needs to become as commonplace on the nation’s roads and highways as alcohol testing is today. Urine, oral fluids, and blood testing all can be used. Drug tests should be performed on the following categories of drivers:

  • all fatally and seriously injured drivers
  • drivers involved in accidents involving serious injuries
  • drivers who fail field sobriety tests who have BAC’s below violation levels
  • drivers found to have drugs or drug paraphernalia in their cars
  • others where drug use is suspected by the officer
  • at all sobriety checkpoints

Additionally, drug testing is a necessary part of the recovery program for drivers convicted of Drugged Driving. Please visit our Treatment page to learn more about how to deal with Drugged Drivers.

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