Police describe grant-funded oral-fluid device to screen drivers for drugs; training and lab confirmation required

The council heard a presentation from the Clarksville Police Department about a memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to receive oral-fluid testing equipment for preliminary drug screening in suspected impaired driving cases.

Chief Burdine told the council the grant provides a Sotox oral-fluid mobile system (a handheld device that analyzes saliva cartridges) to participating agencies at no initial cost; the city will receive two devices and an initial supply of test cartridges. Use requires probable cause that a driver…