Minnesota's Department of Public Safety is looking to capitalize off of a yearlong pilot program where dozens of agencies tested software that detects drug use in impaired drivers.
Hundreds of voluntary tests taken over the course of 2024 yielded 87% positive results, the Department of Public Safety said. The tests come in the form of mouth swabs — and test for a half dozen drugs, including cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine and other amphetamines, CBS reports.
The portable devices cost $5,000 each — and went out to 57 drug recognition experts from 41 law enforcement agencies in Minnesota last year. Cartridges for the devices cost about $30 each.
While they're not asking for a specific number of devices to be approved, they hope to have them as readily available as breathalyzer tests in the future.
