By Charlene Tebbutt

New drug testing device

P.A. Police add new drug testing device to arsenal

Feb 8, 2019 | 2:50 PM

Local police have a new tool to help weed out impaired drivers with the delivery of a new drug testing machine.

The Prince Albert Police Service is now in possession of a new Dräger DrugTest 5000, a Keurig-sized device that uses a mouth swab to test for cocaine and the presence of THC, the active chemical ingredient in cannabis. The police service received the new kit about three weeks ago and two local officers have now been certified to administer the test.

Money for the drug testing device came from the federal government.

Sgt. Terry Epp said the new device is user friendly and easy to work with and would be useful in situations where police are conducting roadside testing or check stops. P.A. officers haven’t yet had the chance to use the device in a real-time situation, Epp said, but it has proven to be simple to use.

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Sgt. Terry Epp reads the results of a recent drug test using the new Dräger DrugTest 5000. (Charlene Tebbutt/paNOW Staff)

The Dräger DrugTest 5000 provides results within about five minutes. Once a swab of a person’s mouth is taken, the swab is placed inside the testing machine for analysis. The machine then prints out the results of the drug test onto a sheet of paper.

The police service will still rely on specially-trained officers to find and investigate drug-impaired drivers, Epp added.

“This is just one additional tool that we have in our arsenal to be able to detect and take impaired drivers off the road,” Epp said Friday. “To get the point where we use this, we have to have reasonable suspicion.”

“Without good officer observation and investigation, we can’t even get to this point.”

Police Chief Jon Bergen has said the devices pose some challenges. Inaccurate readings can happen in cold weather.

With files from Ronald Quaroni

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt