After drawing considerable ire from the public
over a program that tested drivers for drug and alcohol use — the
latter secretly and without their consent — federal transportation
officials today said they will no longer surreptitiously collect breath
samples from drivers at roadblocks. The Associated Press reports
that a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official said
roadblock testers will now get motorists' permission before using a
passive alcohol sensor, which previously gathered breath samples before
drivers could consent to the study. NHTSA has
been conducting their National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use
by Drivers since the 1970s to monitor drug and alcohol use by drivers.
But as Jalopnik and other outlets reported last month, federal
contractors had lately taken to using passive sensors to secretly test
drivers. After being forced into roadblock areas by police, many drivers
complained they felt they had no choice but to take part in the study...more
Participation in the study is supposed to be voluntary, but the feds don't want to take "no" for an answer. The AP article has this:
Officials have said that the passive alcohol sensor, which can collect
breath samples several inches from a person's face, allowed researchers
to maximize the amount of data they collect while helping them get
impaired drivers off the road. A 2007 survey methodology said a
particular brand was chosen because it was “less obvious and
intimidating” than larger sensors and could be used before the
motorist's “consent or refusal of the survey.”
The feds don't want our "consent" to do anything, even a study. The Constitution is such a bother. My biggest fear? That someday they'll make tobacco illegal and the feds will surreptitiously determine I've been dipping snuff. That's when me and the Copenhagen Cops will go at it.
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