Opinion ID: 2994252
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Nature of the governmental concern

Text: According to the Supreme Court’s methodology in Vernonia, we should assess the government’s interest from two perspectives--whether there is any correlation between the defined population and the abuse, and whether there is any correlation between the abuse and the government’s interest in protecting life and property. We turn first to whether there is any correlation between the defined student population and the abuse. Here, however, the School has not proven, or even attempted to prove, that a correlation exists between drug use and those who engage in extracurricular activities or drug use and those who drive to school. Indeed, at oral argument, counsel for PHM admitted that there is no correlation between students involved in extracurricular activities and drug abuse. Counsel also stated that student drivers do not differ from the general school population based on its statistical abstract. Finally, counsel conceded that the lack of such relationship distinguished this case from the facts in Vernonia in which the evidence demonstrated that the athletes were the leaders of the drug culture. Thus, counsel for PHM is admitting that, at least in this respect, the district is attempting to do what this court in Willis admonished against: dividing the students into broad categories and drug testing on a category-by-category basis, which allows for drug testing for all but the most uninvolved and isolated students. See Willis, 158 F.3d at 423. In fact, at oral argument, counsel announced that the goal is to test all students on a random, suspicionless basis. We now turn to whether there is any correlation between the abuse and the government’s interest in protecting life and property. We have no doubt that a legitimate and pressing need for drug and alcohol testing of students driving vehicles on school property stems from the ability of one student under the influence of drugs or alcohol to injure seriously another student. With the mass exit of students after classes into the relatively close confines of a student parking lot, one student under the influence of drugs or alcohol could cause serious injury or death. On the other hand, the decision of PHM to test student drivers for the presence of nicotine is not so easily justified. Tobacco use is legal if a person is over 18 years of age. PHM’s school policy validly prevents use of tobacco products on school grounds. However, if a student smokes at home, leaves the cigarettes at the house, drives to school, and is drug tested, the results would reveal the presence of nicotine. This student could be subject to sanctions under PHM’s policy for a perfectly legal activity. In the absence of supporting data, this expansive view of the School’s interest goes too far. Furthermore, PHM simply has not documented any serious risks associated with a student driving while using a tobacco product. Finally, although PHM may have justified the risk of injury associated with student drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, PHM has not explained how drug use affects students in extracurricular activities differently than students in general.