cannabisnews.com: Drugged Drivers Bill Clears Committee!





Drugged Drivers Bill Clears Committee!
Posted by FoM on April 10, 1999 at 09:18:45 PT
Source: SF Gate
Nevada DUI laws could apply to those caught driving under the influence of illegal drugs under a bill that cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Friday. 
SB481, by Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, would change DUI laws to apply to any driver with a detectable amount of heroin, cocaine, LSD, marijuana or other illegal drugs in a blood test. ``We want to make sure those using illegal drugs are taken off the streets, but we're not looking for people who have prescription medication,'' Porter said. Supporters of the bill, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Nevada Highway Patrol, say the problem of drugged drivers is as dangerous as drunken drivers. They say Porter's measure mirrors laws in nine other states. The Nevada Department of Transportation released figures showing the number of crashes involving drivers under the influence of drugs has increased from 97 in 1995 to 163 in 1997. Ben Graham of the Clark County district attorney's office said the law would work in the same way as they do for drunken drivers. Drivers caught with drugs in their system would be breaking the law, even if there wasn't proof they were impaired. ``We don't have to prove you're driving impaired. From a practical standpoint, there'd have to be probable cause before any one was arrested,'' he said. Why not prescription drugs too?They can really cause a person problems while driving?
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Comment #1 posted by Candice Adkins on September 07, 2000 at 13:47:08 PT
DUI law applicable to illegal drugs & prescription
I do NOT think this law is fair. People have a right to do what they want on their free time. You would be taking that right away. Drugs do stay in the system for a longer amount of time than it initially affects the person.Is it really worth ruining somebody's life by charging them with this new charge? If an accident did occur due to the intoxication of an illegal substance or prescription, they do pay the price if they commit a crime. Simply enjoying yourself is not a crime or is it? Bill Clinton would have went to jail for his one puff os marijuana smoke, but now he is our president. Don't we already have enough laws? Pretty soon we will have laws to tell us how to walk or talk a certian way because somebody decides it is good for us.  
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