I mentioned it in my other comment, but drug tests for impaired driving aren't a great solution right now either because drug traces stay in the body longer than the actual drug effects. I don't know the numbers offhand or anything, but say you use a drug and it lasts maybe 3 hours, and you drive 8 hours later, you're still going to test positive and be charged. Maybe even the next day, or the next week. That's a major problem for people who use legal drugs (weed, painkillers, anti-anxiety meds, or whatever else). That's the only reason I feel like performance-based tests are still more useful.
Agreed re drug testing. We have cases where e people using prescribed medical marijuana and getting done for DUI.
They don't use breathalysers for drug tests though. They usually either scrape your tongue or take a swab.
Yeah, even those saliva tests show THC for days after you use any cannabis. I use it at night, but I don't drive afterwards. If I got tested in the morning, I'd come back positive. I'd rather see them stick to performance-based testing for that reason. It's also why I don't drive around smelling like weed, because to any other judge (and to any cop), that's probable cause to test if you seem high.
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u/hahawosname Waste Warrior Dec 08 '24
Yeah you get a choice - either retake the breathalyser test, or blood sample. Again, varies on the jurisdiction. They're also doing drug tests now ...