Kansans Unlawful Rights to Search and Seizure Threatened by Bill 2617

A new Kansas bill if passed into law will require drug testing for all people involved in an accident that results in a serious injury.

House Bill 2617 would make drug testing the law for both passengers and operators of the motor vehicles.

I don't use drugs and don't condone their use under any circumstances, this however smacks of big brother and invasion of privacy.

We already have laws on our book allowing police officers to request a screening from someone whom they suspect may be under the influence of illegal narcotics, isn't this enough ?

From what I read this bill has received the limited publicity that it has because the parents of a Amanda Bixby, have actually testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

"We need this law to collect evidence." he reportedly stated.

Amanda Bixby was killed Feb. 14, 2007, on U.S. Highway 24-40 just west of Basehor in a collision caused when a vehicle driven by Ricardo Flores ran a stop sign.

Flores eventually pleaded no contest to failure to yield at a stop sign, speeding and driving without a valid license. He was fined and placed on six months' probation.

I couldn't imagine the pain of a parent who loses his daughter. The grief would be overwhelming. But this AC associate must also note that his daughter has passed, and even if the parents could somehow manage to criminalise everyone on the scene this wouldn't bring her back.

Apparently the driver of one of the vehicles in the accident may or may not have been under the influence of drugs during the time of the accident. That of course makes the grief even more acute but shouldn't we look at the bigger ramifications of this bill before we throw away another legal right.

I am not referring to peoples right to do drugs because I am anti drug, however I am talking about the peoples right to be free from harassment by the police if they are not a suspect in a crime.

I ask you this, What do the passengers involved in the accident have to do with anything ? They just happened to be along for the ride.

This AC producer believes that in this State we have plenty of reasons on the books for the police to harass, humiliate, and even taze you for no reason at all.

I wish that it were still a time when we could trust our law enforcement officials to use good judgement and actually show respect and courtesy to the citizen whom is nothing less than their employer. That however has not proven to be the case.

Instead the police and law enforcement officials have demonstrated the ability to abuse any power that has been granted them by new laws and to actually take pleasure in wasting tax payer dollars by participating in useless and dangerous high speed pursuits while completely disregarding the private and public property that they have been sworn to protect.

They taze the innocent and guilty alike completely immune to the laws they are asked to uphold.

Don't get me wrong if me getting drug tested at random, and for no reason, other than being at the wrong place at the wrong time would bring your loved daughter back than I would do it for you. As it stands this won't happen.

I will extend my sympathies and contact my Legislature and ask that my right to freedom of unlawful search and seizure be upheld. I also encourage every other reader from the great State of Kansas to do the same.