State officials are evaluating a roadside drug test that could help police counter the growing number of drivers who are high behind the wheel.
The Courier-Journal reports that state Office of Highway Safety is partnering with authorities in Louisville, Paducah and Madison County to test portable kits that police officers could eventually carry into the field to test drivers for controlled substances.
If the tests prove reliable, lawmakers say they will consider legislation next year to expand their use.
Louisville defense attorney Larry Forman says the tests could lead to invasive searches or give officers false pretense for arrests.
According to Kentucky State Police, authorities suspected that drugs were a factor in nearly 1,600 traffic collisions across the state last year, resulting in 939 injuries and 214 deaths.