Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users

[LiviaOlivia]

Thursday :: September 14, 2006
Eyechecks to be Used to Bust Drug Users
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/015732.html

West Virginia will become the first state in the country to bust drug users using the new EyeTech technology.

It is being made possible by a $2 million grant from Congressman Alan Mollohan, and will allow local law enforcement officials to receive training. The training will help them bust drug users, by learning the physiological signs, and through scanning the individual's eyes with the EyeCheck device.

The device looks like binoculars, and in seconds it scans an individuals pupils to detect a problem. "They'll be able to tell if they're on drugs, and what kind, whether marijuana, cocaine, or alcohol. Or even in the case of a tractor trailer driver, is he too tired to drive his rig?" said Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne.

The device can also detect abnormalities from chemical and biological effects, as well as natural disasters.

Can it also pick up the dry cleaning? Sounds like a hype and junk science to me.

~snip~

[Corgigal]

1. it's called Horizontal Gaze

It's been used for years. My husband was certified in this technique. They always use it on drunks.
http://forensic-evidence.com/site/Biol_Evid/HGN.html

[personman]

3. I think it's more then that...

"and through scanning the individual's eyes with the EyeCheck device."

[MoseyWalker]

2. Sounds all too real to me

Instead of the cop making one look at a pencil going back and forth to determine if he or she is drunk, all they have to do is turn this machine on and whammo presto!

Instant money for the city and county.

It's a godsend for municipalities who are wondering where to get their next dollar.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Can someone explain what exactly this means?

The device can also detect abnormalities from chemical and biological effects, as well as natural disasters.

I don't understand what they're saying. :shrug:

[LiviaOlivia]

5. from the manufacturer's website:

http://www.mcjeyecheck.com/index.htm

~snip~

* An individual simply peers into the unit's viewing area. A light flashes, and the pupil reacts to that stimuli, causing constriction and then re-dilation of the pupil.

* EyeCheck™ pupillometer tracks the pupil's reaction response to a light stimuli.
* The pupillary dynamics are collected, recorded, and stored.
* The data is then processed and the results are displayed on your computer screen.
* The displayed data indicates a PASS/FAIL results.(shown above)

~snip~

Hope you don't have allergies and use OTC or Rx meds.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. Yes, but what I don't get is the snip I put in my post

The part about it detecting something pertaining to natural disasters. What in the world are they talking about?

[LiviaOlivia]

11. Beats me.

:shrug:

[mcscajun]

9. Also hope you're not over 50, as older eyes do not react the same

as younger ones do.

The manufacturer specifies that this device cannot be used on all populations:
" Not recommended for individuals under the age of 16
" Not recommended for individuals over the age 50
" Not considered to be a reliable testing instrument for pregnant women

[Horse with no Name]

13. Or have had cataract surgery

or a head injury.
Those things will certainly void the test.

[TexasLawyer]

8. Katrina in the eye-balls?

Whaaa?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. You'd think that be pretty easy to spot without a special "device"

Wouldn't ya. :shrug:

[mcscajun]

6. A cursory review of the device indicates this is a bullshit tool

that will be abused. It's reliability and accuracy is suspect. One pilot found more "false positives" than true positives, and this is something they're going to rely on?

You can see the device here: http://www.mcjeyecheck.com/

The remainder of this post comes straight from the manufacturer's own site:

Positives 19
Negatives 82
False Positives 29
False Negatives 4
Inconclusive Negatives 8
Inconclusive Positives 4
http://www.mcjeyecheck.com/sdsum.htm

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THE EyeCheck INSTRUMENT?
As noted by the sales representative, the EyeCheck is not intended to be a pre-screening drug-testing tool for everyone. Certain situations/conditions may affect the results of the testing. For instance, a person who has experienced a serious head/eye injury may prompt a positive test result even though the person may not have any altering substance in his/her system. Some other examples of situations/conditions that may have a bearing on test results include the following:

" Not recommended for individuals under the age of 16
" Not recommended for individuals over the age 50
" Not considered to be a reliable testing instrument for pregnant women

It should be noted that EyeCheck is a pre-screening instrument to determine possible impairment and not a replacement for urinalysis. A positive result on EyeCheck alone should not be used as a basis for issuing a sanction. A confirmation by urinalysis testing, or by some other accepted testing procedure is a necessary component for this pre-screening drug testing apparatus.
http://www.mcjeyecheck.com/text/sum_of_testing.htm

[BeFree]

12. Shine that sucker at me and....

....I will go blind just long enough to win a lawsuit.

These are my eyes and they don't belong to no damn government.