DETROIT – Michigan State Police released the results of a pilot roadside drug testing program.
The program, which ran from Nov. 2017 to Nov. 2018, in five Michigan counties (Berrien, Delta, Kent, St. Clair and Washtenaw), examined the effectiveness of roadside saliva tests to detect drugs.
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During the trial period, officers conducted 92 oral tests and 74 came back positive for marijuana. However, five of the positive tests came back as false positive after a blood test.
As of Dec. 20, 2018, 38 drivers have been convicted of 47 charges, noting that individuals
can be convicted in more than one category. Forty-nine cases pend a final court disposition.
One case was dismissed and one case was not prosecuted.
In Dec. 2018, the Michigan Legislature agreed to support the ongoing funding of the oral fluid pilot
and the expansion of the pilot program to additional interested, qualified counties around the state.
An appropriation of $626,000 for the extension of the Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program was
included in the supplemental funding bill that became Public Act 618 of 2018.
In the coming months, the MSP will continue its work to acquire the necessary equipment and develop
specific policies, procedures, and data collection requirements to support the necessary analyses of the
expanded pilot program.