With marijuana about to become legal in a couple of weeks, police officers in northern Ontario are getting ready.
Instructors from the Ontario Police College are in Timmins this week teaching over a dozen city and provincial officers how to conduct more comprehensive sobriety tests on drivers.
They are using mock pull overs to demonstrate how to conduct a more standardized way of testing drivers for impairment. This type of testing is used by police agencies throughout North America.
From now on, drivers who are suspected of driving drunk or drug impaired will be asked to do a series of activities involving vision, walking and standing on one foot when they're pulled over.
"All three tests start with the same thing: please stand with your heels and toes together and your arms by your sides. We will then demonstrate what we're requesting from them and we'll tell them ‘do not move until you're advised to do so. Do you understand?’ And then we'll begin the three tests." said Constable David Ainsworth, of the Timmins Police Service.
Police say this is good timing with Canada's marijuana laws loosening up on October 17th.
"It's certainly part of it, but it's not in direct relation to the legalization of recreational cannabis usage, but nonetheless it is on the horizon. We're aware of it and we're trying to stay ahead of the curve as far as public safety is concerned." said Marc Depatie, of the Timmins Police Service.
Officials say moving to a standardized way of testing for impairment will mean every driver who's pulled over will be handled following the same protocol.
