Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2005
Source: Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2005, East Midlands Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/961

CRACKDOWN: POLICE SET TO TARGET DRUGGED-UP DRIVERS

POLICE are set to bring back old style roadside tests to halt an alarming
new rise in drug-driving.

And the reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to Class C drug has been
blamed as contributing to the worrying trend.

Motorists who are stopped will be forced to demonstrate co-ordination, and
will have the dilation of their pupils measured.

If they fail or refuse they will be arrested under new laws passed by the
Home Office -- as they would be for refusing a breath test -- and taken to
Thorpe Wood police station where a blood test will be taken.

The crackdown comes after police announced a 66 per cent hike in
drug-driving, up from 15 in 2003, to 25 in 2004, two of which were at
crashes.

Across Cambridgeshire, that figure went up from 55 in 2003, to 73 last year.

Pc Paul Stubbings, casualty reduction officer, said the reclassification of
cannabis had made the problem worse.

He said: "Far more people -- especially young people -- think it is normal
to smoke cannabis. It is that drug which is on the increase.

"Human nature dictates that if people can get away with something they will.

"And if they are given an inch they will take a mile. People think that
there is no problem with taking cannabis and driving, and that if they do
they won't get caught.

"They don't consider the consequences of driving while their judgement is
impaired."

Most of the people arrested in 2004 for drug-driving were suspected of
smoking cannabis, although heroin and cocaine was found inside some
vehicles.

Drink-driving arrests also rose in the city from 454 in 2003 to 505 last
year.

Standing on one leg and pupil examinations

THE following tests will make up the road side examination for suspected
drug drivers:

- -- Pupillary examination. A board with different sized spots will be held
next to the driver's eye to measure pupil size, which become larger under
the influence of drugs.

- -- Romberg test. Suspect is asked to close eyes and count 30 seconds in his
head. Drug taking can either speed up or slow down a person's internal
clock.

- -- Walk and talk test. The suspect walks nine paces toe to heel, then turns
and walks nine paces back, counting each one.

- -- One leg stand test. The suspect stands on one leg, lifts the other six to
eight inches above the ground, and then switches leg. The officer checks for
swaying.

- -- Finger to nose test. Suspect closes his eyes and makes his right index
finger touch the tip of his nose, then the left, then right, etc. This tests
their co-ordination and distance perception.
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MAP posted-by: Josh