LANSING, MI -- A longtime Michigan sheriff wants police armed with a handheld spit-test device to help determine whether drivers are high on drugs.

State Rep. Brian BeGole, R-Antrim Township, the former Shiawassee County sheriff, held up one of the Abbot Laboratories’ SoToxa devices during a Michigan House Rules Committee hearing on Thursday, June 6.

By inserting a swab containing saliva, manufacturer’s claim it can detect the presence of certain drugs within a few minutes.

Critics believe use of the tests will lead to improper arrests. Supporters say they’ll remove dangerous drivers from the roadway.

‘SMOKE SHOW’

“A lot of people are trying to put up a smoke show,” BeGole said of the critics. “They want you to believe that this instrument is going to determine whether innocent people

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