Berrien County’s reputation for — and track record involving — impaired driving crashes and arrests has earned us the dubious distinction of becoming one of five Michigan counties subject to a one year roadside drug testing pilot program established by the Michigan State Police.
Starting next week, in an effort to combat the dangers of drugged driving, Berrien County will join four other Michigan counties who will participate in the one-year “oral fluid roadside drug testing,” in a bid to keep drivers from operating motor vehicles while under the influence of controlled substances. The pilot program set up by the State Police will also be launched in Delta, Kent, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties.
Each of those five counties were selected based on several criteria, including the number of impaired driving crashes, the number of impaired drivers arrested, and the number of trained Drug Recognition Experts in the county.
The Preliminary Oral Fluid Analysis pilot program was established by Public Acts 242 and 243 of 2016. The pilot program will establish policies for the administration of roadside drug testing to determine whether an individual is operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance in violation of Michigan law. The one-year pilot program will begin next week on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.
Over the last several years, Michigan has seen a steady increase in fatal crashes involving drivers impaired by drugs. In 2016, there were 236 drug-involved traffic fatalities, which is an increase of 32-percent from 179 drug-involved traffic fatalities in 2015.
State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue says, “Motorists under the influence of drugs pose a risk to themselves and others on the road.” She adds, “With drugged driving on the rise, law enforcement officers need an effective tool to assist in making these determinations during a traffic stop.”
Drug Recognition Experts are police officers who have received highly specified training that allows them to identify drivers impaired by drugs. Although the pilot program is being organized and managed by the Michigan State Police, Drug Recognition Experts employed by county, township and municipal police agencies will also be involved.
Under the pilot program, a Drug Recognition Expert may require a person to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis to detect the presence of a controlled substance in the person’s body if they suspect the driver is impaired by drugs. The preliminary oral fluid analysis will be conducted by that agent on the person’s oral fluid, obtained by mouth swab, and will be administered along with the drug recognition 12-step evaluation currently used by those experts. Refusal to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis upon lawful demand of a police officer is a civil infraction.
