Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2006
Source: Voice, The (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2006 Langara College
Contact:  http://www.langara.bc.ca/voice/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3592
Author: Chris Rae

VANCOUVER POLICE APPLAUD LEGISLATION TO MAKE LIFE TOUGHER FOR STONED
DRIVERS

Proposed federal 'drug-driving' legislation that will crack down on 
those who smoke marijuana and drive is a step in the right direction, 
say police.

"Anything that's going to take impaired drivers, be it from alcohol 
or drugs, off our streets ...is something we firmly support," said 
Const. Howard Chow, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department.

The legislation, introduced Nov. 21 by justice minister Vic Toews, 
would require drivers suspected of being high to pass a roadside 
sobriety test. If they fail, drivers would be sent to a police 
station and forced to provide a sample of bodily fluid.

Brandon Steele, manager of Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture 
Headquarters, said the legislation is unfair and only makes it easier 
for police to make arrests. "There should never be a set standard of 
'this is in your system so you're going to jail'. That doesn't make 
sense," he said.

Chow said the procedure is not so cutand-dry. "When we charge 
somebody for being impaired because of drugs, it's not always 
necessary to check their system for drugs. We first have to establish 
that their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired."

Officers trained to be drug recognition experts are called to the 
scene when a driver is suspected of being under the influence of 
drugs, Chow said.

Iryna Kolesnyk, a Langara biology student, said tougher legislation 
is a good idea because it will make impaired drivers think twice 
before getting behind the wheel. "It's their personal choice [to get 
high], but if they're compromising others that's not a good thing."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine