The Citizen, 2003-06-11, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2003.
Changes to pot laws have MADD concerned
Just checking
With police having few tools to assist them in
charging drivers whose ability may be impaired
by drugs, MADD Canada had hoped that the
federal government would slow down on its
move to de-criminalize marijuana. (File photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
While the federal
government has decided that
possession of small amounts
of marijuana shouldn’t be a
crime. at least one
organization thinks it still can
be.
Laurie Dinning, president
of the Huron-Bruce chapter of
MADD said the organization
is tremendously concerned
about drug-related impaired
drivers.
And it’s not a new worry. In
its November 2001 policy
document Taking Back our
Roads, MADD made several
recommendations to assist
police in detecting and
arresting drug-impaired
drivers.
“When confronted with
MADD Canada’s arguments,
the government used excuses
like police not have the
training, which is wrong they
don’t have the tools, as well
as charter or rights issues,”
said Dinning.
That the government
dropped the allowed amount
of marijuana from 30 gms to
15 gms is no comfort to
MADD.
“Cannabis does slow
reactions, but the police do
not have the tools to deal with
drug-impaired driving
situations.”
If an officer suspects a
Test shows twice the legal limit
Continued from page 1
driven by a 25-year-old Port
Albert resident, was
northbound when he pulled
out to pass a van heading in
the same direction. According
to police, the driver did not
see the rollerblader and struck
him. The car then entered the
east ditch, striking several
objects before re-entering the
highway. He then entered the
west ditch, colliding with
many objects before coming
driver might be impaired they
can pull them over. There are
roadside sobriety tests, and if
alcohol consumption is
suspected then a roadside test
can be given.
However, there is no way to
confirm that a driver might be
impaired by drugs. A blood
test can only be taken in the
event of an accident and even
then, police have no
benchmark, such as the 80 mg
of alcohol in 100 ml of blood,
to use as proof of impairment,
says OPP Sr. Const. Greg
Moore. “There is no
measuring stick to show that
this guy is impaired because
of the THC level he
registered.”
Greg Bowman, a counsellor
with Huron Addiction
Services, says to try and
determine impairment by the
number of marijuana
cigarettes smoked would be
impossible. “Like alcohol,
impairment depends on a
number of factors. The first
time for example will mean
there will be more
impairment. The potency of
the marijuana is another
factor.”
While physical evidence
could allow officers to lay an
drug-related impaired charge,
Moore says that in his
experience he has not known
of such a case. “It’s not that
common.”
This might be because even
to rest 400 metres from the
crash site.
Police were called to the
scene at approximately 9:50
p.m. and found the driver of
the Pontiac exhibiting
physical symptoms of
impairment. He was taken to
Goderich for a breath test
which indicated that he had
approximately twice the legal
limit allowable when driving.
Salamone was rushed to
Goderich Marine and General
in alcohol cases, impairment
comes down to the officer’s
word, which defence can
often argue. Reasonable
doubt can be raised that the
physical signs are a result of
something else, rather than
impairment. The driver may
be in shock, they may have
health problems which result
in slurred speech or
ambulatory difficulties.
Lawyer Mike Donnelly,
who is also the prosecutor in
drug cases, said an impaired
driving charge would be
“extremely difficult to prove
with drugs. I have had a lot of
cases where drugs and alcohol
have been used together, but I
can’t think of any when a
driver was found guilty
of drug-related impaired
driving.”
With nothing for police to
follow MADD was hoping
that the government would
wait until it had “checks and
balances in place” before
passing the legislation.
One of those checks and
balances would be for a
standard test to be done by a
drug recognition expert.
These specially-trained
officers conduct a test to
determine if a suspect is
impaired, if that impairment
is drug-related and what type
of drug might be involved.
Also, Dinning says, police
should have the right to
videotape a standard field
sobriety test (roadside tests to
determine whether a person is
impaired) and the drug
recognition tests. “These
provide the evidence to
support a charge of
impairment.”
MADD also believes that
an officer should have the
right to demand a blood test if
impairment by drugs is
suspected.
“This is not about a
person’s rights. We have the
right to drive, not the right to
drive while impaired,” says
Dinning.
The Canadian Police
Association also wrote the
prime minister prior to the
vote. In the letter they too
stated that they need tools to
deal with drivers impaired by
drugs.
But they also spoke of other
concerns. They spoke of the
need to educate children to
prevent drug use, and to have
a “balanced approach that
reduces the adverse effects
associated with drug use by
limited both the supply of and
demand for illicit drugs,
enabling an integrated and
sustained approach to
prevention, education,
enforcement, treatment,
rehabilitation and research.”
Hospital but was pronounced
dead on arrival.
The driver has been
charged with impaired
driving causing death and will
appear in court Sept. 15.
The crash is still under
investigation with assistance
from Technical Traffic
Collision Investigators.
Anyone who witnessed the
crash or has more information
is asked to call Huron OPP at
524-8314.
Dinning too says that the
legislation passes a mixed
message. “You can’t teach
kids one thing, that drugs are
wrong, then make them
legal.”
As for using drugs and
driving, Dinning says,
OPP look for suspects
in local break-ins
Huron OPP are
investigating a rash of break-
ins and thefts throughout the
area.
On June 3 at 5:15 p.m. OPP
attended a farmhouse located
on Morris Road in Morris-
Turnberry over a break-in.
The homeowner said that
sometime between May 30
and June 3 a person forced
open a door to the residence.
Once inside the house was
ransacked and 30 jazz CDs
were stolen.
The value of the theft is
estimated at $400.
SNOWMOBILES
STOLEN
On June 2 shortly after 7
p.m. OPP were called to a
farm located on Clegg Line in
Morris over the theft of
County to send letter
Continued from page 1
A letter will be sent to the
Ontario Progressive
Conservative Party.
“We can’t tolerate this
(policy suggestion),” said
Layton. “This is not a good
day for anyone.”
Johns said she has received
feedback from several sectors
of the community with
responses varying, depending
on how property tax increases
in recent years have impacted
the caller. “Those with high
property tax increases want
some protection,” she said.
In the same policy, the
province has proposed
------------------------\
Is the party
finally over?
If you are concerned about
your own, or someone else’s
use of alcohol or drugs, the
Drug and Alcohol Registry
of Treatment (DART) can
guide you to the help you
need. Call us 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.
(O
dArt
Drug and Aiconoi Registry of Treatment
Drcgue el alcool • Repertoire des traitemenls
1-800-565-8603
www.dart.on.ca
The Drug and Alcohol Registry of Tieatment
(DARI) acknowledges the financial support of
the Government of Ontario. Ministry of
Health and longlerm Care.
MADD’s stand is simple. “If
you use drugs, if you drink,
don’t drive.”
“We think this legislation
will increase usage. Already
there have been people saying
that when they go to a party
they won’t drink, they’ll
vehicles.
The victim said that
sometime in the previous 10
days a person entered the
property and stole two
snowmobiles that were left
outside next to the barn, a
1992 black Arctic Cat and an
older model blue Kawasaki
Drifter. The two snowmobiles
will cost $4,000 to replace.
GARAGE BREAK-IN
On May 25 at 7 a.m. a
break-in was discovered on
North Street in Morris-
Turnberry at Jolly’s Auto
Repair Garage.
The owner found the door
to the business had been
forced open during the night
and over $6,000 worth of
equipment was stolen from
the interior.
allowing municipalities the
power to create new taxes to
raise money for specific
purposes. Taxes could be
imposed on municipal
gasoline sales, rentals of
hotel/motel rooms and
parking spaces.
The project would have to
be approved-,through a
referendum and the
municipality would have to
be completely accountable
J-iappy r^nniversary! *
David Armstrong and Stephanie Sheeler were
married Saturday, June 1, 2002 at Charing Cross
United Church, Charing Cross, ON. Rev. Cathrine
Campbell from Melville Presbyterian Church,
Brussels officiated. Following the ceremony a
wedding reception was held at Club Lentina's,
Chatham. Stephanie is the daughter of David and
Barbara Sheeler, R.R. #1 Charing Cross and David
is the son of Brian and Elaine Armstrong, R.R. #1
Ethel. David and Stephanie reside in Thunder Bay
where David is pursuing a masters psychology
degree and working as a music therapist and
Stephanie is employed as a developmental social
Lworker.
A_______________________________________A.
smoke dope.”
“I think the message this
has sent is frightening. For
our part we will continue to
push, push, push until the
police have all the tools they
need to keep the public safe
from impaired drivers.”
Taken were some cash from
the register, a Snap-On lab
scope laptop computer, Snap-
On scanner, six Snap-On
computer scopes and a Nokia
cell phone along with a few
small tools.
DIRT BIKE STOLEN
On May 15 at 11:15 a.m.
OPP were called over the
theft of a dirt bike from a
residence on Glenannon Road
in Morris-Turnberry. The
victim told police that
sometime the previous night a
1984 Honda CR60 red dirt
bike was stolen from the
yard.
Anyone who can assist
police in solving any of these
crimes is asked to call the
Huron OPP or Crime
Stoppers.
for all monies raised.
The only instance where a
vote would not be required is
where the proposed tax
change is revenue neutral.
Huron East Mayor Lin
Steffler had no comment as
she had not yet seen the
information.
For further information on
Premier Eves’s campaign
promises, visit
www.OntarioPC.com.