Wilbur
New Member
The 20,000 motorists targeted next year by random drug-driving tests will have to wait up to five minutes before getting the all-clear.
Drivers who record a negative reading for illicit drugs will only be required to undergo one test, but positive drug samples will be tested three times for accuracy.
Police Minister Judy Spence told The Courier-Mail that 24 specialised police would take saliva from drivers by putting a swab, similar to a cotton bud, in their mouth.
The swab will be mixed with a chemical solution that identifies the constituent that causes the "high" such as THC in cannabis.
Ms Spence said there would be a chemical reaction between the test kit and the driver's saliva if there was a presence of illicit drugs.
"The tests will detect any amount of cannabis and any amount of ~other drugs~ above 50 nanograms (one nanogram weighs a billion times less than one gram) of drug per millilitre of saliva," Ms Spence said.
"Current testing devices available take about three to five minutes to perform and get a result."
Drivers who initially test positive will be taken into a drug bus — refrigerated to ensure the samples do not spoil — for another mouth swab.
The positive sample will then be sent to a laboratory for further analysis. Drivers will be alerted and face court if the test result is positive.
Experts say cannabis can make motorists unable to make quick decisions when confronted with the unexpected.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: The Courier Mail
Pubdate: 24 November 2006
Copyright: 2006 Queensland Newspapers
Contact: Contact Us | The Courier-Mail
Website: The Courier-Mail Homepage | News from Queensland and around the world
Drivers who record a negative reading for illicit drugs will only be required to undergo one test, but positive drug samples will be tested three times for accuracy.
Police Minister Judy Spence told The Courier-Mail that 24 specialised police would take saliva from drivers by putting a swab, similar to a cotton bud, in their mouth.
The swab will be mixed with a chemical solution that identifies the constituent that causes the "high" such as THC in cannabis.
Ms Spence said there would be a chemical reaction between the test kit and the driver's saliva if there was a presence of illicit drugs.
"The tests will detect any amount of cannabis and any amount of ~other drugs~ above 50 nanograms (one nanogram weighs a billion times less than one gram) of drug per millilitre of saliva," Ms Spence said.
"Current testing devices available take about three to five minutes to perform and get a result."
Drivers who initially test positive will be taken into a drug bus — refrigerated to ensure the samples do not spoil — for another mouth swab.
The positive sample will then be sent to a laboratory for further analysis. Drivers will be alerted and face court if the test result is positive.
Experts say cannabis can make motorists unable to make quick decisions when confronted with the unexpected.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: The Courier Mail
Pubdate: 24 November 2006
Copyright: 2006 Queensland Newspapers
Contact: Contact Us | The Courier-Mail
Website: The Courier-Mail Homepage | News from Queensland and around the world
