Pubdate: Wed, 19 May 2004 Source: West Australian (Australia) Copyright: 2004 West Australian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.thewest.com.au Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495 Author: Steve Butler Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) DRIVER DRUG TEST LAW WAITS ON NEW TECHNOLOGY New laws to allow random roadside testing for drugs were almost complete, Police Minister Michelle Roberts told a Budget estimates hearing at State Parliament last night. Mrs Roberts said she was closely watching a Victorian trial, which had so far proved effective, and hoped WA laws would be in place once improved technology was available. She said new technology had been developed to identify the different types of drugs in a person's system and how long ago they had used them. WA police had already been trained to conduct roadside behavioural tests to assess if a person was under the influence of drugs. "What we want is a foolproof system of quickly identifying what drugs are present - the way technology is advancing it's only a short matter of time before we can get some recognised system," Mrs Roberts said. The Victorian trial forces drivers to give a saliva sample that is processed within minutes, showing the presence of drugs such as marijuana, speed, cocaine and ecstasy. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin