(7/24) Carroll Valley Borough officials discussed concerns over the reported rise in drug-related, driving-while-intoxicated (DUI) arrests, as well as concerns over the continued efforts by some to "legalize" illegal drugs.
Borough Police Chief Richard Hileman told the Borough Council at their July meeting that drug use is increasing; and opioid-related DUI arrests are "rising significantly."
"A great many of our alcohol DUIs involve drugs now," he stated, adding, "We have a fair number of DUIs that are drugs only." During August and September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked law enforcement to place emphasis on cracking-down on "drugged driving," as compared to just alcohol-involved driving, Hileman said.
The chief also discussed the process for determining if a driver is suspected of driving under the influence of a drug, following a list of indicators, and that some of the officers are trained in drug use detection. "In finality, it comes out in the blood test," he stated.
Council President Richard Mathews asked, regarding the increased use of drugs while driving, what was being done by police associations or departments "with this current push to further legalize the use of marijuana in Pennsylvania?"
Hileman responded that he did not know if the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association has taken a stand on that issue, but, added, "I will tell you, we would not be at all surprised to see at the federal level in this Congress for them to take it (marijuana) off as a Schedule-One controlled substance."
In Pennsylvania, the possession and use of "recreational marijuana" use is still currently illegal, but the possession and use of medical cannabis is legal, but possession and the sale of marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
He stated, "I think there’s enough people (in Congress) to make that happen. Once that happens. it will probably tumble down to more of the states," adding, "Regardless of what position you take on it, it’s going to end-up where it’s going to end-up."
Mathews said that, to him, the push to legalize marijuana is "kind of naive." He said the politicians might see it as a source of revenue, but to drivers, "It’s higher automobile insurance. It’s higher crime. It just seems so ridiculous to me."
