Doubts raised over roadside drug testing

Police have been forced to apologise to a young Beaumaris man after roadside tests wrongly showed he had drugs in his system.

The latest incident has raised doubts about the tests after admissions they can be affected by human error or faulty equipment.

William Morley was driving home from Mount Buller when he was pulled over by police at Bonnie Doon for a routine roadside screening.

The 20-year-old apprentice, of Beaumaris, tested positive for methamphetamine, and then ecstasy in a second drug test.

He was banned from driving for 12 hours, despite insisting the preliminary test results were wrong.

"Ive never taken a drug in my life," he told Seven News. "I don't do drugs at all."

In a bid to prove his innocence, William took himself to hospital for a blood test, after an initial request for a repeat check was refused by police.

It took four weeks to clear his name, after further testing by Victoria Police's forensic lab.

He says he received a letter in the post to say results of the saliva swab drug testing device were negative.

"The worst thing that's come out of this is I had to take the day off work, and put my boss out. It's not a very good system at all.

Senior police admit the roadside tests aren't infallible.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said: "The first is human error, our people using the equipment can make mistakes.

"The second reason as to why it might fail is because of the device failing us."

William says he doesn't want to take any legal action and says he's all for keeping drugged drivers off our roads.

But he believes there must be a better system and is disappointed he didn't receive an apology from police.

"I am completely against driving on drugs, but you can't just book people and fine people that are innocent," he said.

"There was no sorry for banning you, no sorry for nothing."

This afternoon, he got his wish.

However, police don't apologise for the testing regime.