RCMP equipped with roadside drug screening devices #nltraffic

RCMP officers in this province will have roadside drug screening devices in the near future.

These devices will assist officers with suspected cannabis drug-impaired driving investigations.

The drug screening device conducts a rapid drug test at the roadside using an oral swab obtained from a suspected cannabis drug-impaired driver. The result displays as a pass or a fail, with a failure indicating that the driver has active cannabis levels that are above the legal limit.

These results provide officers with the grounds to make an arrest for drug-impaired driving and to continue with an impaired driving investigation. Failure or refusal to comply with a demand made by an officer for a roadside drug screening sample is a criminal charge that carries the same penalties, upon conviction, as impaired driving.

Over the coming weeks, 21 such drug testing devices will be distributed in various locations across the province with plans in place to procure at least one unit for every RCMP detachment in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Training is being held at RCMP Headquarters in St. John's this week.