Truckers and other drivers share the same goal: to get home safely.
But all it takes is one bad decision from another driver to change lives forever. Distraction, drugs, and alcohol continue to fuel crashes.
For years, breath tests have been the go-to tool for spotting impaired drivers. Now, more states are turning to saliva tests to catch possible drug impairment.
Only Alabama and Indiana have permanent, statewide roadside saliva-testing programs.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin lawmakers are taking aim at drivers whose choices can shatter lives in seconds.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, impaired drivers were involved in 7,067 crashes in 2024. Those crashes involved alcohol, drugs, or both.
A new law expands how officers can screen truckers and others suspected of being impaired.
Whether it’s a driver heading home from dinner or a boater enjoying a day on the water, the rule applies.
Officers can now request a breath test, a saliva test, or both when they suspect drug impairment.
The results can’t be used to prove guilt. They can only help officers establish probable cause for an arrest or additional testing.
Any saliva sample must be destroyed or returned after the preliminary screening.
Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, called the law an important step toward safer roads.
“Impaired operating harms and kills too many Wisconsin families every year,” Dittrich said. “Whether from alcohol, marijuana, opioids, other drugs, or a combination.”
She said the new law gives officers a faster, less invasive tool to spot drug impairment when a breath test alone can’t tell the whole story.
Michigan
Michigan lawmakers are considering a plan that could change how truck drivers are tested on the roadside.
The bipartisan proposal, HB4390 and HB4391, would create a statewide saliva-testing program. Any police officer could ask truckers or others to take a saliva test to check for drug use.
The results could be used in criminal cases. Drivers who refuse the test would face penalties similar to those for refusing a breath test.
Supporters say the goal is simple: save lives.
Rep. Brian BeGole, R-Antrim Township, pointed to Michigan’s 1,021 fatal crashes in 2023. Nearly one in four involved drugs.
He said police need every tool available to crack down on drugged driving.
The NTSB told lawmakers that saliva tests can quickly provide evidence of drug use before substances leave a driver’s system.
Critics aren’t convinced. They argue roadside saliva tests lack strong scientific backing. They also say tests can’t show how much of a drug is in someone’s system or whether the driver was actually impaired.
The House has already passed the bills. They now await action in a Senate committee. LL
More Land Line coverage of state news is available.
Credit: Source link
