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Post by John Stacey on Mar 16, 2005 9:20:27 GMT
Gents, The other car club to which I belong, Citroen CC, ran and article this month which caused me some concern. The general theme was that the new regulations and the MEANS buy which drugs in the blood were to be measured means that everyone tested will be found to be carrying drugs in their blood. Result £1000 fine and driving ban. The reason stated was that the detectors are simple on/off units. Not, as with the breathaliser, quantitive measuring devices. Most everyday processed food products apparently contain enough preservative and other additives to cause a positive reading. Over-the-counter medicines are, of course, drugs. Does anyone with connections to the "authorities" have any further information on this apparently admirable drug/driving law? John Stacey (Bristol)
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Post by PeterMadden on Mar 16, 2005 10:00:34 GMT
John,
I haven't seen the article to which you refer and whilst undoubtedly government makes some very dumb laws on occasions I can't see this one happening.
There is no question that something needs to be done. The law currently has two drink/drug offences, one is the alcohol limit a simple and accurate test of the breath whereby a offence is committed if you are over the limit no evidence of any impaired driving need be shown. There is no limit which exists for drugs.
The other offence which exists is driniving 'whilst unfit' through drink or drugs. To prove a charge of 'unfit' you need to show considerable evidence of impairment, for alcohol the driver would be very pissed indeed.
The authorities are currently looking at means of a roadside test for drugs which would give police the 'reasonable grounds' to suspect that someone was driving under the influence of drugs and therefore arrest them take them back to the Police Station were a proper evidential test could be conducted. The breathaliser for alcohol which was originally used on the streets (a bag and glass tube with chemicals) was a fairly basic bit of kit but a failure gave that 'reasonable suspicion' needed to arrest.
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 16, 2005 17:24:27 GMT
???I am on continual pain medication but it does not affect my ability to drive and I have not been advised to refrain from driving either.
I also take under prescription Simvastatin a drug to lower cholestorol as many thousands of people also take and it can even be bought without presciption so are all these "driving under the influence"
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