06 Jan 2005 (Sourceeterborough Evening Telegraph) United Kingdom ------- POLICE are set to bring back old style roadside tests to halt an alarming new rise in drug-driving. And the reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to Class C drug has been blamed as contributing to the worrying trend. Motorists who are stopped will be forced to demonstrate co-ordination, and will have the dilation of their pupils measured. If they fail or refuse they will be arrested under new laws passed by the Home Office -- as they would be for refusing a breath test -- and taken to Thorpe Wood police station where a blood test will be taken. The crackdown comes after police announced a 66 per cent hike in drug-driving, up from 15 in 2003, to 25 in 2004, two of which were at crashes. Across Cambridgeshire, that figure went up from 55 in 2003, to 73 last year. Pc Paul Stubbings, casualty reduction officer, said the reclassification of cannabis had made the problem worse. He said: "Far more people -- especially young people -- think it is normal to smoke cannabis. It is that drug which is on the increase. "Human nature dictates that if people can get away with something they will. "And if they are given an inch they will take a mile. People think that there is no problem with taking cannabis and driving, and that if they do they won't get caught. "They don't consider the consequences of driving while their judgement is impaired." Most of the people arrested in 2004 for drug-driving were suspected of smoking cannabis, although heroin and cocaine was found inside some vehicles. Drink-driving arrests also rose in the city from 454 in 2003 to 505 last year. Standing on one leg and pupil examinations THE following tests will make up the road side examination for suspected drug drivers: - -- Pupillary examination. A board with different sized spots will be held next to the driver's eye to measure pupil size, which become larger under the influence of drugs. - -- Romberg test. Suspect is asked to close eyes and count 30 seconds in his head. Drug taking can either speed up or slow down a person's internal clock. - -- Walk and talk test. The suspect walks nine paces toe to heel, then turns and walks nine paces back, counting each one. - -- One leg stand test. The suspect stands on one leg, lifts the other six to eight inches above the ground, and then switches leg. The officer checks for swaying. - -- Finger to nose test. Suspect closes his eyes and makes his right index finger touch the tip of his nose, then the left, then right, etc. This tests their co-ordination and distance perception. Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 Source: Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK) Copyright: 2005, East Midlands Newspapers Ltd. Contact: editor@petevtel.demon.co.uk Website: http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/961
bollocks man, i couldn't do those teats when sober........count to 30, try getting a mate and asking him to do likewise when sober and you'll both come up with diffrent times, as a second is an exact measurement of time, we can't judge seconds perfectly, and my balance is shit.............it's fucking humiliating and i imagine against your human rights to have to perform these at the side of the road for everyone to view.........stand on one leg, touch your nose, it's unreal!!!!!!!!! Peace out........Sid
It is quite humiliating Sid. I've done field sobriety testing before here in the States and it's very similar. Some parts of the States I've heard of them asking you to say the alphabet backwards! Now I don't know about you mate, but I sure as hell can't even do that sober, lol.