Michigan continues to see an increase in drug-impaired driving, yet officers lack a practical roadside method to detect recent drug use. Current enforcement tools were designed for alcohol, not the complex drug landscape officers face today.

In 2024, Michigan recorded 288,880 crashes, including 2,315 drug-involved crashes and 272 drug-related fatalities, a 6% increase from the previous year. Nearly one in four fatal crashes now involves drug impairment.

Oral fluid screening offers a science-based way to detect recent drug use at the roadside. It works alongside Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and DRE evaluations, helping officers make faster, clearer decisions while maintaining existing legal protections.

This tool functions similarly to a preliminary breath test for alcohol. It is already supported in 24 states and is widely used in Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Minnesota’s recent statewide pilot shows that oral fluid screening is accurate, practical, and effective. The pilot reported an 87% positive detection rate, with more than 82% agreement between roadside results and confirmatory lab tests. Most drivers who tested positive had multiple substances in their system.

These results demonstrate that oral fluid screening strengthens impaired-driving investigations without replacing existing protocols.

The Care, Don’t Drive Impaired Coalition supports passage of HB 4390 and HB 4391, which would authorize statewide use of oral fluid screening in Michigan. These bills provide officers with a modern investigative tool, improve consistency across agencies, and help reduce drug-impaired crashes.

We welcome collaboration with lawmakers, law enforcement leaders, and public-safety partners who share our commitment to safer roads.