Eden Prairie police will soon test drivers they suspect have been using marijuana.
The city will be one of several Minnesota municipalities testing a new kit that utilizes a saliva swab. The test reveals how recently a person ingested marijuana or opioids but does not indicate the level of impairment.
The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), under the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, is launching the statewide pilot project. An OTS spokesperson stated that the units for this project have been ordered but are not yet in use, with their arrival anticipated in mid-December.
The saliva test screens for six substances, including cannabis and opioids, using both the SoToxa Mobile Test System and the Dräger DrugTest 5000. Both devices have been tested in other states.
“We should get started around the first of the year,” said Sgt. Tom Lowery of the Eden Prairie Police Department.
Participation in the test is voluntary. Test results cannot be used as evidence in legal proceedings, and individuals who consent to the test will not face arrest…
