Your police officers: trained to protect you

Following the legalization of cannabis, which came into effect on October 17, several worried citizens have wondered if the Mont-Tremblant police force can detect this drug in a driver.

No device, but they’re well equipped…

The federal government has approved the use of theDräger DrugTest 5000, which will be available to Québec police forces starting December 18 of this year. Until then, trained police officers can determine if a driver is under the influence of a drug or a combination of alcohol and drug(s) using movement coordination testing.

Three stages

First, the officers check the driver’s eyes. They will observe if the eye is showing nystagmus, which is involuntary movements of the eye caused by the absorption of certain types of drug. Secondly, the police have the driver undertake the “walk and back up” test, in which the driver has to divide their attention between the police officer’s explanation and the action of walking in a straight line.

Lastly, the driver has to stand on one foot, counting aloud and maintaining their balance for about 30 seconds.

While the tests are being done, the police will try to observe indications of faculty impairment that would reduce the ability to drive a vehicle. If the driver performs adequately, they will be free to leave immediately.

If not, they will be arrested and will have to undergo evaluation at the police station by an evaluating officer. This evaluation, which takes about 45 minutes, measures the clinical and psycho-clinical signs and symptoms and can be confirmed via urine sample.

True or false?

The DrugTest 5000 enables a quick and simple determination of up to seven substances with one saliva sample.

At this time, there is just one device approved by the Criminal Code, the Dräger DrugTest 5000.

TRUE
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The Ville de Mont-Tremblant police department has an evaluator qualified to collect a urine sample at the end of an evaluation.

TRUE
____

Driving while impaired by fatigue is an offense under the Criminal Code.

FALSE
However, a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel and caused an accident can be charged with dangerous driving or criminal negligence.

 

By the same author: Halloween safety tips (Click the image below)

 

 

Éric Cadotte51 Posts

Agent aux relations communautaires du Service de police de Mont-Tremblant, Éric Cadotte collabore par le biais de chroniques avec plusieurs médias de la région, dont la radio Cime FM et la télévision communautaire TVCL. / As community relations agent for the Mont-Tremblant Police Department, Éric Cadotte works via written and spoken columns with several regional media outlets, including CIME FM radio and TVCL community television.

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