LA to Add Oral Swabs to DUI Checkpoints

Fourth Amendment? Is that some kind of a punk band?

Starting this weekend, law enforcement in Los Angeles will begin expanded use of saliva swab test kits on drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. The change comes just in time for New Year's Eve celebrations.

The testing is already used at some LAPD DUI checkpoints and at three stations that have jails. A $520,000 grant awarded to the L.A. City Attorney's Office will expand the regular use of the test next year.

 "Using drugs and driving is a combination that won't be tolerated in this city," said L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer.

Comments

[Thinking Clearly]

People have driven for years with marijuana metabolites in their system without a problem. This is a $520,000 witch hunt to make more money for law enforcement on the backs of the 90% (plus) marijuana users that have no addiction or driving problems of any sort. This is pure demagoguery. Instead of throwing the witch in to see if she sinks or swims to determine guilt, we can now swab instead. This swab does not benefit the public. Just some law enforcement fat cats afraid of losing their lucrative jobs when marijuana becomes legal.

[James_R]

Drug prohibition has just shifted away from targeting low-level dealers and addicts to drivers. Everyone seems convinced that every driver out there (except themselves) is dangerous and needs to be locked up. This belief in safety over freedom has become more important than upholding our constitution

[Danhayes]

Some info regarding the above article "The holiday season is one of the most egregious times for drinking and driving, If LA police suspect someone is driving under the influence of narcotics or alcohol, they will make that arrest. However, in most states, even without any evidence of traffic violations or intoxicated driving, any driver can be legally stopped and investigated at a dui attorney seattle checkpoint. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that these stops, although not based on any particular evidence about the driver, are legal because the need to prevent drunken-driving accidents outweighs the minimal intrusion to sober drivers. "