Pubdate: Thu, 14 Apr 2005
Source: Sunday Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/letters/letters.html
Website: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/438
Author: Jeremy Kelly
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

TRUCKIES WARNED OF DRUG TESTS VIA CB

SOME long-distance truckies are using CB radios to dodge Victoria's 
drug-driving tests.

They pull over at rest stops along highways after being alerted to the new 
police drug bus.

The Transport Workers Union said some drivers would be trying to outsmart 
the system, and that the tests were nabbing one in every 60 truck drivers.

As when avoiding speed cameras and highway patrol cars, truckies use their 
radios to alert other drivers when the drug bus is in the area.

A police source said it was like playing musical chairs as truckies pulled 
over to rest when the bus hit a large highway.

Once a radio alert was heard, truck drivers would settle at rest stops. 
Police are reluctant to test them, fearing the charge would not stick.

"If people are heeding the warnings and staying off the roads because they 
are drug-affected, then we have achieved our outcome," a police spokeswoman 
said.

She refused to release the latest figures on the drug-driving trial.

But TWU state secretary Bill Noonan said he was told last week that of the 
965 truck drivers tested since the trial began, there had been 16 positive 
results.

He said it was a similar rate to car drivers.

Mr Noonan said he would not be surprised if the CB radio system was being 
abused by some drivers.

"I am certain from time to time some drivers might seek to beat the 
system," Mr Noonan said.

"But rest stops will only hold so many trucks."

Mr Noonan dismissed interstate reports that 90 per cent of truck drivers 
were on drugs and said the results of the tests proved this.

The drug-testing trial is said to otherwise be progressing well, with at 
least one driver telling police "You've got me", before the test was even 
administered.

The year-long trial of the world-first testing started embarrassingly in 
December with the first "positive" subsequently proving false.

The driver was cleared when the sample was tested later at the police lab.
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MAP posted-by: Beth