Police test new breathalyzer for 'drugged driving'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11 / AP) - Police in three of California's largest counties are testing what amounts to a breathalyzer for drug users. Some law enforcement agencies hope to see the detection devices in widespread use soon.

Officers and some lawmakers say California urgently needs to adopt the devices since voters in November approved Proposition 64 legalizing recreational pot.

California will become the world's largest cannabis market when legalization takes full effect next year.

They demonstrated one such device outside the state Capitol on Wednesday.

An officer used a cheek swab to collect saliva from a suspect. He then plugged it into a walkie-talkie size device. It shows within five minutes whether any of six drugs are present in the saliva. 

The devices have been tested in Kern, Los Angeles and Sacramento counties.

Copyright 2017 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid – download the Fresco News App today.