Currently, work is underway to put into operation four more new laboratories for processing blood samples taken from drivers of motor vehicles. This was stated by Interior Minister Daniel Mitov during the parliamentary control, quoted by BNR.
He did not commit to a deadline for when they will be operational, but assured that the Ministry of Interior will make every effort to make this happen as soon as possible in order to solve the problem of the long wait for results.
However, the tests cannot be changed, Minister Mitov emphasized and proposed another solution - according to him, the instructions for detaining drivers of the road in the event of a positive drug test must be reviewed and such a task has been assigned to the DG "National Police":
"Even if there is a positive result from the drug test, it is not necessary to detain them in every case, but here, of course, the judgment of the officers on the spot will have to come into play, because there are people who have used drugs, in a visibly inadequate state, who are driving. There are those in whom the test reacts positively for other reasons and the question here is what these reasons are".
Mitov stated that the law enforcement agencies are aware that taken drugs can be the cause of positive tests:
"It is clear that the tests are very sensitive. In order for them to be able to catch a narcotic substance, to report it, they must be sensitive. Therefore, one should read the leaflets of the medicines that people take very carefully and not drive immediately after using such medicines that may contain certain substances. These tests are used throughout Europe and the problem is widespread. It is not only in Bulgaria".
According to him, there should be cooperation with the Ministry of Health so that drivers are informed about the ingredients in various medicinal products to which the test reacts.