Bills give permission to law enforcement to drug test drivers

LANSING — Two bills recently signed by Governor Rick Snyder will give police officers in five different counties the authority to test drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Senate Bills 207 and 434, sponsored by Senators Rick Jones and Tom Casperson, create a one-year pilot program. The program will allow law enforcement officers who are trained as Drug Recognition Experts to administer a saliva test to drivers who are suspected of being under the influence of drugs, like heroin, marijuana, and cocaine.

There’s no word yet on which five counties will be selected for the program.