Opinion ID: 559398
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Drug Testing

Text: 8 Under the analytical framework of Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives' Association, 489 U.S. 602, 109 S.Ct. 1402 (1989), and National Treasury Employees Union v. Von Raab, 489 U.S. 656, 109 S.Ct. 1384 (1989), we must balance the governmental interests furthered by the drug testing against the privacy interests of the tested employee. GCRTA has a compelling interest in protecting the safety of its passengers and the general public by ensuring that its drivers do not operate buses while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. GCRTA's policy of requiring bus drivers to undergo urinalysis at biannual physical examinations and after certain specified accidents serves to detect and deter drug use by its drivers. Therefore, the drug testing policy is reasonably related to the compelling governmental interest in protecting public safety. 9 On the other hand, Holloman had a diminished expectation of privacy by virtue of his employment in a safety-sensitive position, the performance of which was dependent upon his health and fitness. GCRTA bus drivers are required to undergo biannual physical examinations, and they can be barred from driving when their health affects their ability to drive safely. The testing procedures employed in this case posed only limited threats to Holloman's justifiable expectations of privacy. 10 In sum, the drug testing of Holloman following his collision with another vehicle and at his biannual physical examination was reasonable because GCRTA's compelling interest in protecting public safety outweighed Holloman's diminished expectations of privacy. Therefore, we hold that the drug testing did not violate Holloman's Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches. See Tanks v. Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Auth., --- F.2d ----, (slip op. No. 90-3494) (6th Cir.1991).