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Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users

West Virginia will become the first state in the country to bust drug users using the new EyeTech technology.

It is being made possible by a $2 million grant from Congressman Alan Mollohan, and will allow local law enforcement officials to receive training. The training will help them bust drug users, by learning the physiological signs, and through scanning the individual's eyes with the EyeCheck device.

The device looks like binoculars, and in seconds it scans an individuals pupils to detect a problem. "They'll be able to tell if they're on drugs, and what kind, whether marijuana, cocaine, or alcohol. Or even in the case of a tractor trailer driver, is he too tired to drive his rig?" said Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne.

The device can also detect abnormalities from chemical and biological effects, as well as natural disasters.

Can it also pick up the dry cleaning? Sounds like a hype and junk science to me.

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    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#2)
    by bad Jim on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 12:33:20 AM EST
    It probably wouldn't be a good idea to run this on drivers before 9am or so.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#3)
    by roxtar on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 03:35:09 AM EST
    Kee-rist. That's my county. Sheriff Burgoyne's most celebrated accomplishment is stopping carloads of undocumented workers as they transit through our 12 mile stretch of I-70 between Ohio and Pennsylvania. He turns them over to INS (ICE), who then (apparently) turns them loose. If there's no other probable cause to demand a chemical test, what's the value of these "X-ray Spex"? And if there is PC, what's the point? They have no evidentiary value absent a change in the DUI statute. What a joke. Mr. Daubert, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 03:35:49 AM EST
    The way the article is written seems to be misleading as it emphasizes that this device makes the 'bust' easier. "measures absolute pupil dynamics to presumptively detect drugs and intoxicating compounds with immediate results." - Office Of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization OLETC (I couldn't make up a better name. They are located in W. Virginia and part of the National Institute for Justice -Homeland Security Act of 2002- and the US Department of Justice.) Many over the counter and legally used prescription medications can affect pupil dynamics. I imagine in a controlled situation it should be pretty easy to differentiate cocaine, marajauna, or booze if those are your only choices. They are from different drug groups based on how they interact with the nervous system. I seriously doubt this holds up in the real world where any number of other factors can affect the results including the use of legal drugs, and I imagine various medical conditions. This is more appropriate for a screening device (as indicated by the manufacturers website MCJ, Inc.) and not as hard evidence of specific illegal drug use. (Also if this has a high false positive rate it could easily be misused and abused. For example if OLETC and others strongly promote the bust and arrest element.) If used appropriately it might have a place in this world as an inexpensive, non-invasive drug screen test. Particularly in circumstances where drug screening is already in place (parole offices, drug rehab, etc.) Out in the field, however it seems good training, observation skills and a flashlight has managed to get plenty of drug users into prison.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 06:15:24 AM EST
    This device is foiled by Visine. It "Gets The Red Out®."

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#5)
    by cpinva on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 06:15:24 AM EST
    hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, i smell another "lie detector" test here, also not allowed as evidence at trial. while pupil dilation is indicative of drugs in the system, it's also a common symptom of other, non drug related issues, a concussion for example. something tells me a couple of days of "training", for non-medical personnel (police), isn't going to be sufficient for them to be able to accurately differenciate. this doesn't come in a "black box" by chance, does it? does the term "pork" ring a bell here?

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 06:15:24 AM EST
    Allergies can also affect pupil dilation. What's next medical alert bracelets to warn of conditions affecting pupil dynamics?

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 06:15:24 AM EST
    Get colored contacts

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#9)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 06:59:56 AM EST
    Do these idiots have any clue as to how many OTC drugs can cause constricted pupils? Shoot even a bad cold is going to register. "With every improvement in technology, there comes a decrease in personal freedom." Asimov From the Foundation Trilogy What's next? The neuronic whip?

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#11)
    by dutchfox on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 07:31:15 AM EST
    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 07:50:25 AM EST
    The Science behind branding (Groonk's Newsnmine)
    Doherty and colleagues at UCL and the University of Iowa, US, ranked the preferences of human volunteers for blackcurrant, melon, grapefruit and carrot juice, and for a tasteless, odourless control drink. The researchers scanned the volunteers brains using a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect enhanced blood flow in various brain regions - the greater the flow, the greater the neural activity in those areas. They developed a Pavlovian-type association by flashing a geometric shape on a computer screen and giving a squirt of juice into the volunteers mouths. However, the volunteers did not realise that they were being conditioned in this way they were simply told to press a button to indicate on which side of the screen the shape had appeared. The team measured how the volunteers had become conditioned by measuring their anticipation of the juice squirts following an image by measuring the dilation of their pupils.
    ---edger

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 08:39:00 AM EST
    Too bad that $2million grant went to put these in cops hands on the street, instead of in doctors and nurses hands in hospital ERs, where they could actually do a great deal of good.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#10)
    by ScottW on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 08:39:00 AM EST
    "They'll be able to tell if they're on drugs, and what kind, whether marijuana, cocaine, or alcohol." Someone might want to let cops know that drug users tend to use more then one drug. I wonder if their magic machine is going to tell the operator what drugs the person is using and the quantities consumed. In most states you actually have to be under the influence, not just using, in other words it has to actually impair you driving ability. Then start mixing and the law starts getting real grey. I would imagine this is a gimmick in order to get people to agree to or force a blood sample.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 08:39:00 AM EST
    No cop is scanning my eyes with anything. Don't trust them. 10 years from now, they will figure out this device causes vision loss or blindness or something. My advice to W. Virginian drivers...keep those lids closed tight when the man comes to invade your corneas.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#14)
    by wlgriffi on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 08:39:00 AM EST
    Don't under-estimate the government's long arm. It will quickly advance that legal quirk "implied consent". This quirk has dispensed with the constitutional protection of not testifying against yourself.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 08:55:01 AM EST
    I guess it's only a matter of time till they cut to the chase and take blood and dna samples for immediate screening on the side of the road. "Sir, you've taken 2 aspirin and drank 3 Heinekens today, you had a BLT for lunch, took some shrooms last month, and you're susceptible to prostate cancer. And by the way, you're under arrest." The future looks bleak for freedom.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#16)
    by Sailor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 09:00:05 AM EST
    This 'test' is complete BS. pupil size is subject to an infinite amount of variations including stress, foveal fixation and blood sugar. Normally occurring nystagmus and especially strabismus will also affect bilateral pupil measurements. We couldn't do these tests reliably in my lab even with a control group, known drugs and a $70k anterior segment scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 11:48:12 AM EST
    I believe the grant comes courtesy of hard-working federal taxpayers. Politicians count on the misrepresentation that they somehow create the money flowing into the federal treasury.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 11:48:12 AM EST
    while china cheats on world trade by artificially printing funny money , then with the funny money they buy our treasury bonds , and while bush and kennedy encourage mexicans come north and take jobs that clinton said (remember welfare reform) people would work if they had a chance , this idiot mollohan has nothing more to do then harrass them and give the police a "another toy" that they will definetely enjoy using. police officers do enjoy using the power of the badge , but oh how they cry when some nut shoots them. well these policies coming from guys like mollohan is what is driving people nuts. please fix the real problems america has then play with these toys

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#20)
    by Aaron on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 12:38:10 PM EST
    You know who this test is specifically aimed at capturing, marijuana users. Still trying to capture those evil potheads with their newfangled devices. My advice in these instances is that you piss the cop off enough to pepper spray you in the face before you take the test. That way your lawyer will be able to bring the test results into question.

    Re: Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 05:33:02 PM EST
    What a wonderful way to allow any unskilled, non-medical type personnel to make a "good faith" mistake, wrongfully arrest someone, illegally search them, and have all the evidence allowed in court under a "good faith" exemption because, after all, a cop with no medical training whatever is the perfect person to have conducting, reading, and determining the medical condition of hapless motorists they have pulled over based upon technology requiring a good deal of medical training to interpret. Big Brother has truly arrived and is coming to a neighborhood near you - soon.