The Health Act has changed the conditions for drug testing at the wheel. Saliva tests may be required, even if there is no violation.
The health law came into force, and with it, multiple articles passed without noise or fuss, attention being focused on flagship measures such as the third party payment or the neutral package.
However, certain provisions will change the daily life of the French. This is the case of article 45 of the law “Of modernization of our health system”, which modifies the conditions of drug screening on the road, recalls Drugs Info Service.
Screening without “prior cause”
Now, even in the absence of an offense, drivers may be subjected to saliva tests for drugs. “The police can carry out these tests, even in the absence of traffic accident, offense or plausible reasons to suspect drug use,” said the news site.
The police will therefore no longer need a “cause” to test drivers. This new regime brings other narcotics closer to alcohol, whose roadside testing is based on the same rule. “This novelty considerably widens the possibilities of having a driver perform a screening test,” explains Drogues Info Service. Theoretically, the number of controls could explode.
Easy test analysis
Until now, a positive drug test on the side of the road had to be confirmed by a blood test. Now, in the event of positive results, the police will be able to take a second saliva sample that they will send to a toxicological analysis laboratory.
This second saliva analysis will determine whether there are traces of narcotics or not. This novelty is intended to simplify police procedures, since it will prevent the driver from going to the hospital for a blood sample. This will facilitate the drug screening procedure on the road.
If traces of narcotics are found, the driver will be prosecuted for “driving while having used narcotics” and will incur two years in prison, a fine of 4,500 euros, the loss of 6 points on his driving license as well as penalties. complementary, reminds Drpgues Info Service.
The #Health law modifies the conditions for drug testing at the wheel: Saliva tests may be required, even in the absence of an offense …
Posted by Why actor on Monday, February 1, 2016
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