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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont House committee is considering legislation allowing police to use a roadside saliva test to check for the presence of marijuana and other drugs in a driver's system.
The House Transportation Committee has been hearing in recent days from Vermont State Police and crime lab officials, who say they support the bill.
A saliva test being used in Europe, Australia and 14 other states can find traces of marijuana, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs.
State police say the test checks for the active ingredient in marijuana that makes a driver stoned — not the byproducts than can stay in the blood steam for up to 30 days.
But the measure is drawing fire from civil liberties and some marijuana legalization supporters.
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