(WXYZ) — Michigan State Police say an expanded roadside drug testing program begins on Tuesday with participation in metro Detroit. Last year, MSP conducted a one-year Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot program, which ended in November 2018.
The pilot provided data on the permanence of the oral fluid test instrument when joined with police observing driver behaviro and standardized field sobriety tests. The overall sample size though was too small to draw any definitive conclusions.
In February, the Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program Committee recommended the expansion of the program for another year throughout the state.
“This additional, statewide data will help to determine the usefulness of this tool for law enforcement, as we work to get drug-impaired drivers off Michigan’s roads,” said Lt. Col. Richard Arnold, commander of MSP’s Field Operations Bureau. “Roadside oral fluid testing continues to show promise and by expanding this pilot, we’ll have a larger body of results by which to determine the tool’s effectiveness.”
In the program, DRE may require a person to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis to detect the presence of a controlled substance if they suspect the driver is impaired by drugs. It is obtained by a mouth swap.
The oral fluid test instrument tests for the presence of amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis (delta 9 THC), cocaine, methamphetamines and opiates. Refusal to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis upon lawful demand of a police officer is a civil infraction.
DREs are police officers with highly-specified training to allow them to identify drivers impaired by drugs.
Agencies in the state participating include: (metro Detroit locations bolded)
Adrian Township Police Department
Allegan County Sheriff’s Department
Alma Department of Public Safety
Alpena Police Department
Ann Arbor Police Department
Auburn Hills Police Department
Battle Creek Police Department
Bay City Police Department
Bay County Sheriff’s Office
Berrien County Sheriff’s Office
Bloomfield Township Police Department
Cadillac Police Department
Canton Township Police Department
Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office
Chikaming Township Police Department
Clawson Police Department
Dearborn Police Department
Escanaba Department of Public Safety
Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office
Grand Blanc Township Police Department
Grand Haven Department of Public Safety
Grand Rapids Police Department
Grand Valley State University Police Department
Greenville Department of Public Safety
Hamburg Township Police Department
Imlay City Police Department
Ingham County Sheriff’s Office
Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Department
Kent County Sheriff’s Office
Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Lapeer Police Department
Lincoln Township Police Department
Livonia Police Department
Macomb County Sheriff’s Department
Marquette County Sheriff’s Office
Menominee Police Department
Michigan State Police
Midland Police Department
Monroe Department of Public Safety
Mt. Pleasant Police Department
Muskegon Police Department
Novi Police Department
Oscoda Township Police Department
Petoskey Department of Public Safety
Pokagon Tribal Police
Port Huron Police Department
Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department
Southfield Police Department
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
Troy Police Department
University of Michigan Police Department
Washtenaw Co Sheriff’s Office
Wayland Police Department
Western Michigan University Department of Public Service
Ypsilanti Police Department
