RCMP officers have heard many excuses from people who drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol, ‘I didn’t think you could tell I was high’, ‘I drive better when I’m high,’ and ‘I thought I’d never get caught because I take the back roads.
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On Friday, June 27th, the Nova Scotia RCMP will prove these theories wrong as we conduct our third in a series of coordinated checkpoints across the province in support of the National Impaired Driving Enforcement Strategy.
Specially trained Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) can determine if a person is impaired by drugs using standardized series of tests and evaluation processes. In conjunction with toxicology results and driving evidence, these can be used as evidence in court.
‘Motorists must take responsibility for their driving decisions and passengers have to be accountable for their decision to drive with someone who is impaired,’ says DRE and member of the Traffic Services Unit, Cst. Mark Skinner.
‘People are wrong if they think because an officer cannot smell the odour of a drug that it cannot be otherwise detected,’ adds Skinner. He explains some of the signs DREs look for vary depending on the drug and in many cases, officers can detect if someone has been using multiple drugs.
Indicators for marijuana include:
· Diminished inhibitions;
· Impaired perception of time and distance ;
· Eyelid and body tremors;
· Difficulty in dividing attention;
· Residue in mouth;
· Dilated pupils; and
· Increased pulse rate, blood pressure.
Cst. Skinner explains that in the case of a drug like marijuana, eye drops and perfume/cologne will not mask the symptoms that DREs are trained to recognize. ‘We are trained to detect drivers who are ‘high’, regardless of what drug they’ve taken.’ The tests are conclusive enough to arrest a driver. ‘They are scientifically validated, and no one can fake them. Even with lots of practice.’ added Cst. Skinner
Citizens who spot a suspected impaired driver are asked to call 911 and report the location where the vehicle is traveling, description of the driver and/or vehicle, and license plate information. By providing this information it will assist the likelihood of police being able to locate the driver.
Source: Release