The RCMP in Nova Scotia are standing behind their roadside saliva tests.
In January Michelle Gray, a medical cannabis user had failed a roadside saliva test, but passed a sobriety test at a Halifax police station.
Constable Chad Morrison, the provincial drug recognition expert co-ordinator for the RCMP says police made an error.
“Yes, the maximum licence suspension that police would be able to issue in that scenario would be for twenty-four hours and, in this case, a 7-day suspension was issued, which was, yes, in error.”
Morrison says they should not have suspended Gray’s licence for seven days.
“The fact that the improper suspension was issued is basically a totally separate issue. We stand by the investigative steps that were taken in this situation. Ultimately, the person was found not to be impaired, however, the tool was used as per our authority in the Code.”
Morrison said this case had nothing to do with the validity of the saliva test.
He says the tests determine if there are any drugs in a person’s system and further tests detect impairment.
Reported by Gary Nickerson
