At least 2 Manitoba police forces will weed out impaired drivers with pot-screening device

At least two of Manitoba's police forces want to use a new roadside test to check for drugs but they don't know when they'll have it, or how they will pay for it.

Police services in Rivers andMordenhave confirmed they will usetheDragerDrugTest5000.

Until they receive it, they will forge aheadwith officers who are trained todetect drug impairment by observation, as will police forces that are wary of the device.

Recreational cannabis will be legalized in Canada on Oct. 17.

"We're as ready as everybody else is," said BobFutrell, chief of the police service in the town of Rivers, about 220 kilometres west of Winnipeg.

He said his detachment isn't worried about havingtheonly federally approved salivascreening equipment in time forlegalization.

"Once we get that [device], obviously, we'll be more prepared, but some things do take a while."

Devices not purchased

The province said Thursday ithasn't bought any of the devices. A spokesperson said the Manitoba government is still waiting to see a funding agreement from its federal counterparts.

"In the meantime, we are working with police agencies to determine their needs, in an effort to help streamline the process once these issues have been addressed," the province's statement said.

The province did not respond totheCBC'squestionon howmanyDragerdevices it wants.

Ottawa has earmarked$161 million over five years to cover police training and drug-testing equipment.

Morden Police Service ChiefBrad Neduzaksays he's ordered one of the devices for use in his southern Manitoba city, despite criticism the tool is unreliable in cold weather.

The manufacturer says the Drager test works best at temperatures between 4 C and 40 C.

"We are a little bit concerned about them, but at the same time, we have alcohol-screening devices as well that are sensitive to the climate," he said, explaining the devicewill be kept inheated environments to avert theissue.

A studypublished in theJournal of Analytical Toxicologyalso raised concerns about a number of false positive and false negative results, based on the device'sscreenings in Norway.

Neduzakdescribedthe instrument as another toolpolice can use.

He's relying on promised federal funding to cover at least part of the cost, but he has not received confirmation. The device is valuedaround $5,000.

Police in Winnipeg, Winkler and Altonaare still evaluating whether they wantthe devices, they told CBCNews.

The RCMPdid not answer a question about whether Mounties in the province will use the Drager device, but the force previously wrote in a statement it will have a "strategic, limited rollout"nationwide, in collaboration withprovincial and municipal partners.

Drager not the be-all, end-all

TheDragertests for THC, the main psychoactive agent in cannabis, but does not provide the evidence necessary for a conviction. A further screening, such as a blood test, would be required.

Without a pot-screening device like theDrager, police forces will dependon standardized field sobriety tests and drug recognition experts.

Peoplesuspected of drug impairment will go through a series of sobriety tests.

If they fail the initial observation from a trained officer, a drug recognition expert will be called in.The accused willlikely be taken to a hospital to obtain a blood sample, saidpolice chiefsCBC News spoke to.

The MordenPolice Service is among the most prepared forces. Among its 12 constables and two sergeants, 70 per cent of them have taken field sobriety training. They also have a trained drug recognition expert in-house.

"I like to think we're a little ahead of the game,"Neduzaksaid.

So far, Altonaand Winkler donot employ a drug expert. They plan to enlist the member in Mordenon the handful of occurrences, annually, when drug impairment issuspected.

In Rivers,Futrellsaidone of his four full-time members can administerfield sobriety tests.

Unknowns abound

Altonapolice Chief PerryBatchelorhasn't ruled out a roadside drug detection tool, but he wants to know about government funding first.

He said a standardized field test is not enough.

"I think it's a piece, but I think theinstrumentation is important becausean instrument will be calibrated, it will be tested, it will be approved and it kind of takes out that human factor," he said.

No matter how ready his force will be for legalization, Batchelor will continue to treat impaired driving as a danger to public safety.

"We've charged people with impaired driving, impaired by drugs or alcohol, for many, many years, so it's still based on an officer's observations and whether you have grounds to arrest."