From: alexc@yang.earlham.edu (Sperminator)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs
Subject: Re: Input sought on drug legalization: detection/
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:18:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: yang.1992Apr8.221845.16837
Organization: Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana


first i want to say that i am a few days behind in reading my news and so 
i apologize if i am responding in the same way that someone else has 
before me.


In article <1992Apr3.001158.1674@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, app45293@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (ZUSS) writes:
> Well, might as well offer my ideas in this thead.
> 
> Someone said that the law should wait until someone has proved themselves
> dangerous by getting in an accident before they are punished.  I can't 
> quite agree with that....BUT, I agree that someone who is under the influence
> but not impaired should not have to suffer.

i agree with this

> 
> So don't the police already have very adequate impairment testing methods,
> and aren't these already in use?  I'm talking about the stick-your-finger-to
> your-nose, walk this straight line, stand on one leg, say the alpahabet test.
> If someone fails this test, they are obviously impaired, and it doesn't matter
> whether or not they pass a breathalyzer or some yet-to-be invented portable
> nuclear powered mass spectrometer that can tell if you've consumed PCP or
> dextromethorphan in the last 12 hours.  I would add my own test to the list
> if it isn't already there: make the testee read something, since this is   
> essential to being able to drive safely and would (I guess??) catch someone
> who was hallucinating wildly.

i like the sentiment, but you are wrong; most of these tests only catch 
the amazingly highly impaired.  I have passed all of these tests while 
absolutely so blasted that i should not have been driving but i was the 
only one who was not unconscious (i admit i did in my youth experiment 
with that evil drug; alcohol, i hear it kills the braincells, but i figure 
what the hell, it's natural selection, only the strong survive).  Anyway, 
i have practiced the test most often used in VA (my home state; i am now 
at college in indiana), the alphabet test.  i can rattle off the alphabet 
backwards as fast as most people can do it forwards.  Also, i have never 
found myself unable to read when i am using a hallucinogen; the first time 
i tripped i took three tabs of acid and later that afternoon went and 
tried to study.  i was able to read, i just kept getting distracted.  New 
methods of testing impairment are needed.  I especially agree that the 
blood alcohol level test is bad.  i am a worse driver when i have only 
drunk a little than when i start to feel the effects of the alcohol; if i 
can feel something, i know i am probably impaired so i drive much more 
carefully, then, when i am really smashed, my driving worsens again since 
i am actually impaired at this level.


> 
> No, I don't agree with roadblocks either.  But I don't see any problem with
> allowing the police ossifer to pull over someone who is driving unsteadily or
> whatever and give them a little test.


hear hear

> 
> **************************************************************************
> Would you mind if we balanced this glass of milk where your visiting friend
> accidentally was killed? Would it be OK with you if we wrote a reminder of 
> things we'll forget to do today otherwise with this green magic marker, if  
> it's all right, on the back of your head? --TMBG
>   ******** Tony Pulokas ****** U of Illinois / Urbana-Champaign *********#

alex MADMAN chermside