Roadside Drug Test Deploys on Long Island

Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, are now equipped with the SoToxa roadside saliva test to detect drug use. This device can identify seven different substances, including THC, methamphetamine, and cocaine, within a five-minute period. The implementation aims to address the challenge of prosecuting drivers under the influence when no specific impairment level for certain drugs, like marijuana, is legally defined.

Officials emphasize that SoToxa is used in conjunction with other methods, such as sobriety expert assessments and court-ordered blood tests, to build a case against impaired drivers. Despite potential concerns about false positives due to marijuana metabolites remaining in the system, police consider the device a significant advancement. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine issued a stern warning, stating that vehicles used in drunk or drug-impaired driving offenses will be confiscated and potentially crushed.