California Legislature Considers “Sober Driving” Law

California State Senator Lou Correa appears to view the low DUI thresholds for drivers as insufficient. Correa has introduced what many are calling a “sober driver” law where a citizen can be arrested for having any detectable level of drugs in their system, even if they are functionally sober. This includes cannabinoids which can stay in your system for weeks. The law seems to move beyond prosecuting people who are actually impaired in driving.

The bill is supported by the California Narcotic Officers Association and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Correa calls the bill his “zero-tolerance” policy — an unfortunate term given the ludicrous history of zero tolerance policies in schools on guns and drugs where students are expelled for drawings and aspirin.

SB 289 would make it illegal for a person to drive a vehicle if his or her blood contains any detectable amount of Schedule I, II, III or IV drugs. It excludes medicine used with a valid prescription issued by a licensed health care practitioner. The law has been passed in other states, but it raises a serious question about the prosecution of individuals who are not actually impaired with detectable levels of a drug still in their system.

What do you think?

Source: East Bay Express