A new pilot program seeking to help catch marijuana-impaired drivers in Minnesota has launched. A select group of police officers will begin administering voluntary oral fluid roadside tests during traffic stops.
Two separate technologies for the test will be used in the trial as law enforcement evaluates which one is more effective.
Law enforcement agencies across the state will deploy Drug Recognition Evaluators to administer oral fluid roadside tests during routine traffic stops.
Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says drivers won't be required to take to the test.
"This is not admissible in any court proceedings and it cannot be used by the officer to help determine probable cause the arrest," Hanson explained. "We are simply doing a data collection and we are evaluating the effectiveness."
The test consists of a cheek swab that's analyzed to detect recent use of marijuana and other drugs, but can't pinpoint how much of the drug was consumed.
Hanson says this is just one step toward safer roads.
"Drug impaired driving is not something that's new on Minnesota roads, but we need to come up with new ways to combat it," Hanson said. "And certainly, cannabis is in the headlines right now because of legalization, but we have to remember that there are a lot of other substances that people are using and driving under the influence of."
The devices can test for up to seven type of drugs, but will only detect recent use of a substance. It will not show how impaired the driver is during the test.