Going for the Two Fer

Driving drunk is a rather foolish endeavor, and the state(s), in their effort to curb this foolishness, keep lowering their definition of what is considered drunk driving.  Many states have lowered the threshold for drunk driving from a blood alcohol content of 0.10 to 0.08, but what else has been tucked away in these drunk driving law changes?

In Michigan, when they passed legislation lowering the threshold to 0.08, they tacked on another little gem which I call going for the two fer.  The details.

”...a change in state law allowing police to charge drivers with driving under the influence if any trace of drugs is found in their systems.

The zero-tolerance for drug-impaired motorists is the little-known provision of a high-profile change to drunken-driving laws that reduced the legal limit for intoxication from a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 to 0.08."

The most agregious portion of the above change in the law is what follows, though.

"Before the legislation, which started enforcement for the new drug and alcohol laws on Oct. 1, 2003, police had to prove drug impairment through poor driving or other benchmarks.

Now, if police find street drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, or even prescription pills, a driver can be sent to jail."

Do you grasp what the above means?  Guilt, without proof of impairment, though the state enforcers, of course, would never abuse the law, according to Sgt. Mark Bos of the Holland Police.

"We can’t just say that guy looks like a user and pull him over,” he said. “But if a person is acting funny after swerving and his eyes are red, that’s good enough."

“That’s good enough.” Says it all, doesn’t it?

“Drivers on drugs create traffic jam at police test lab."

Posted by on 06/22 at 05:54 AM

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