Roadside Drug Testing - Alcohol And Drug Foundation

Driving safely requires full attention. We need to be mentally alert, able to see clearly and have good coordination. This allows us to react quickly when the unexpected happens.

Alcohol and drugs affect the brain – reducing the ability to drive safely.1

You probably know it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level over 0.05, and are familiar with how roadside breath testing works – but you may be less familiar with roadside drug testing.

It’s illegal to drive under the influence of drugs and roadside drug testing focuses on detection rather than impairment.

This means you can be charged when certain drugs are present in your system, even if you don’t feel intoxicated and it’s been a while since you last used the drug.

Here we explain how roadside drug testing works in Victoria. And we talk you through the steps you can take to stay safe.

Note: each state/territory can vary in how it conducts roadside drug tests. There are links at the bottom of this page to find out more on roadside testing in your local area.

What is drug testing?

Drug testing looks for traces of drugs in the body using samples of urine, breath, hair, saliva or sweat. Testing can be used to detect illegal drugs, as well as legal drugs not permitted in certain circumstances such as driving, in some workplaces, or in competitive sport.2

Passing a drug test may mean one of the following:

• you have not consumed any drugs that can be detected by the test
• the drug is no longer in your body
• the test can’t detect any remaining traces.

Saliva tests

Random roadside drug testing uses saliva samples to detect illicit drugs.3

You can be tested by any Victorian police officer – including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.

The officer takes a sample of your saliva by placing an absorbent collector in the mouth or on the tongue. The sample is then analysed at the roadside. If the test is positive, it must be confirmed by laboratory testing before charges can be laid.3

Roadside saliva tests in Victoria detect drugs that contain:

• THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol): the psychoactive component in cannabis that gives people a ‘high’
• methamphetamine: found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’ and ‘crystal meth’. Legally prescribed amphetamines such as dexamphetamines, are not included in the test. You can read more about this here: Can roadside drug tests detect medications like drugs for ADHD? - DARTA
• MDMA: also commonly known as ecstasy.3

Other states/territories also include cocaine in roadside testing. Check the state and territory list at the bottom of this page to find out more.

What about drugs that aren’t detected by the roadside test?

If you pass a roadside saliva test, but you are under the influence of a substance that is not detected, police can still ask you to complete an impairment test.4 This involves assessing your balance, coordination, and overall behaviour.3,5

In situations where police do not have a saliva test handy and they suspect someone is affected, they can still conduct an impairment test.

If you fail an impairment test, police can send you for a urine or blood test to confirm the results.4 This will detect all illegal drugs and medications that are in your system.

Drug driving penalties

In Victoria, there are different drug driving offences a person can be charged with, and the penalties may vary.

If you are caught drug driving in Victoria:

• You will lose your licence for at least six months and receive a $611 fine.
• You must complete a drug driver program within the first three months of your suspension to avoid losing your licence or learner permit.
• You must have a BAC of 0.0 while driving for up to three years, after your licence is returned.
• You may be charged and have to go to court if either of these apply:
• you are charged with other driving offences
• you have been caught drink-driving or drug-driving before.4, 6

Going to court can result in a recorded conviction. This can have a range of negative consequences, such as restrictions on overseas travel and appearing on criminal history checks.4, 6

Driving with more than one substance in your system leads to tougher penalties. This can be alcohol and another drug, or multiple illicit drugs. Police can detect this at the roadside or later through blood or urine tests.7

Penalties could include losing your licence or being disqualified from driving for at least 12 months. In more serious cases, such as a high BAC or a repeat offence, the disqualification can be up to five years.7

To find out more about drug driving offences and penalties in Victoria, visit Victoria Legal Aid or Transport Victoria.

How long can drugs be detected in a roadside test?

Alcohol and other drugs can remain in your system for longer than you think. Even if you no longer feel affected, a roadside test could still return positive.8

Each drug takes a different amount of time to leave your body. Combinations of drugs can take even longer.

Whether you have a positive test result, or not, will depend on a variety of factors, including:

• how much of the drug you’ve taken
• how strong the drug is
• if you’ve used any other drugs that might interact with it
• your tolerance to the drug
• your body's metabolism.

For these reasons, detection times vary and can be longer. The below estimates are a guide only.

• Cannabis: random roadside saliva tests can detect THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) up to 3 days after use. It’s important for people who use cannabis frequently to know that THC can be found in urine samples for around a month after cannabis was last used. This is because the body stores THC in fat cells for a period of time.
• Methamphetamine: may be detected in saliva for up to 3 days after use. When withdrawing or ‘coming down’ from methamphetamine, people can experience fatigue, anxiety and irritability.
• MDMA: may be detected in saliva tests for up to 3 days after use.
• Cocaine: may be detected in saliva tests for up to 3 days after use.
• Medications: if you’re taking medication, it’s best to talk to your GP or pharmacist to learn more about the effects of prescribed medication on driving ability.9-12

Also, remember that fatigue, hangovers or come downs from drugs can still affect your driving skills. Even if you feel ‘sober’, you might still be impaired. It’s safest to rest and recover before getting behind the wheel.8

If you would like more information on how alcohol and other drugs affect driving, check out this webpage: Alcohol, other drugs and driving - Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

If you want to know more about roadside drug testing in other states/territories, check the below links:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia.