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Police officers are trained to administer screening tests to drivers suspected of driving while impaired.
If a police officer suspects that you have drugs or certain types of medication in your system, you may be required to submit to physical coordination tests or take a saliva test.
The police officer will have you follow a pen with your eyes in order to detect the presence of nystagmus (involuntary, jerky eye movements).
The police officer will ask you to walk on a straight line and turn around.
The police officer will also test your ability to perform several tasks simultaneously, such as walking in a straight line or standing on one leg while counting out loud. Under the influence of drugs, it may be difficult to follow all of the police officer's instructions.
Failing these tests is enough to place a driver under arrest.
At the police station, specialized police officers administer a series of more extensive tests to determine whether you are impaired by drugs, medication or alcohol.
Among other things, they will examine:
After the evaluating officer has done these examinations, you will also be required to provide urine or saliva samples for toxicological testing. If the results test positive, they will be submitted as evidence to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales.
The police officer may require you to provide a blood sample for analysis.
If the results of the blood test show that you have a blood drug concentration equal to or over the concentration prescribed by federal regulation, criminal charges may be brought against you.
Last update: June 3, 2022