Road side drug testing project approved by Senate panel

LANSING — A bill that would authorize the Michigan State Police to set up a roadside drug testing pilot program in three Michigan counties is on its way to the Senate after getting unanimous support in a Senate committee Tuesday afternoon.

The bill, inspired by the fatal car crash that killed Thomas and Barbara Smith in the Upper Peninsula in 2013, would allow police officers to take both a breathalyzer and a saliva sample during a traffic stop to determine if a person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The man who was driving the logging truck that hit the Swifts, both 73-years-old, was found to have marijuana in his system. He was found guilty and sentenced to “a measly five years in prison,” the Swift’s son Brian Swift told committee members.

“We remain committed to change the law or build on existing ones,” Swift said. “We loved our mom and dad and don’t want other families to deal with the nightmare we have had to deal with.”

House Fiscal analysts determined the one-year pilot program would cost between $30,000 and $50,000. The drug testing kits could identify six different controlled substances, including THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The Michigan State Police would set up the pilot program and determine which counties would be involved in the project.

The bill — SB 434 — moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.