Blood alcohol level testing, both in a lab and along the roadside, has been available for a long time now. There is no question that elevated blood alcohol levels impair cognitive and motor skills and is the cause of car accidents as well as a host of other human impairments.
But what about the relatively new field of roadside drug testing? What is roadside drug testing and how does it work? Is it a reliable test of drug use and more importantly, does it indicate impairment, especially if you have been in a car accident? And, when you contact a car accident attorney, how will drug testing affect your case?
What is Roadside Drug Testing?
If you are pulled over for erratic driving or are in an accident, an officer will ask you to perform simple tasks such as a sobriety test and likely have you take a breathalyzer test. The officer may then ask for a cheek swab or saliva sample, to test you for various drugs including cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, heroin, opioids and even some prescription drugs.
Refusing to take the test will result in being ticketed and placed in custody. Once a warrant is obtained, the test will become mandatory. Be sure to contact a top-notch car accident attorney should you find yourself subject to a roadside drug test, for any reason.
What if I Am Using a Drug As Prescribed?
If you have been in an accident and inflicted harm on someone else, you are still responsible for your actions, even if the drug was being used as prescribed. However, if you need assistance with your accident, contact a local car accident attorney for help.
Is Roadside Drug Testing Reliable?
The reliability of roadside drug testing is under debate. Proponents of testing state that while the number of impaired drunk drivers has decreased, there has been an increase in the number of impaired drivers due to other substances. Using roadside drug testing will enable officers to identify these people, thereby making the roads safer for all.
On the opposite side of the debate are those who believe that roadside drug testing is unreliable at best. Some believe that the testing detects evidence of drug use days earlier, suggesting that the driver at the time of the test is not really impaired.
The Journal of Analytical Methods of Chemistry’s study stated that roadside drug testing is valid, but has higher chances of false negatives and false positives.
Tolbert Beadle LLC: Car Accident Attorney
Should you find yourself subject to a roadside drug test as the result of a car accident or other reason, contact Tolbert Beadle LLC, Springfield, Missouri’s leading car accident attorney. With our experienced team of car accident lawyers, we will use our years of experience to help you. Contact us today!
