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WedNEsdAy, WEÓNEsdAy 25, 2002
“Toke it up” seems to me to be
the phrase of choice in Idaho
among drivers. There you can
drive under the influence of mari
juana, as long as you do not drive
erratically.
In 1998,
Matthew
Patzer was
pulled over
for a bro
ken tail
light, and
while ofFic
ers were talking with him, he ad
mitted to smoking marijuana at a
party. He was convicted of im
paired driving under case num
ber 00-30360, the United States
v. Patzer.
However, on Mon., Jan. 14,
2002, a federal appeals court
overturned his conviction be
cause, while it was illegal to drive
under the influence of narcotics,
marijuana is not specified as a
narcotic under Idaho law.
The appeals court stated that
“Given the distinction drawn by
a statute, there is no basis to con
clude that impairment may be pre
sumed upon admission of a non
narcotic drug.”
Therefore
Patzer’s confession could not be
used unless he was pulled over
for driving erratically, and it was
then determined he was under the
influence.
The Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Michael J. Fica, said the govern
ment may ask the United States
Supreme Court to hear the case.
The Senate Judiciary, chair
right to not publish any letter.
wwkt'
man, Denton Darrington, ques
tions whether the decision will
hold up.
“Wow
Say It Loud
&
De La Cruz
Proud! Salena Opinion
Editor
Andrew Fowler
Bryan Trammell
Major: Music
word that seems to come to mind.
While I’m all for allowing people
to live each day to the very full
est and partying it up if that’s
what they want, I am glad I don’t
live in Idaho. Now, I am not per
fect by any means and have been
thoughtless when sitting behind
the wheel of my car. It’s scary
knowing that in Idaho people can
drive while under the influence
of a drug that may make you high
and happy but also hinders your
ability to think or function.
If people want to get high or
drunk, hey, party on. But if they
want to be stupid and get behind
the wheel of a car when they’re
high or drunk, I’m sorry, I’m not
going to be happy about it. It’s
one thing if you endanger your
own life, but it’s quite another if
you get behind that wheel and
run into me or someone I care
about.
So, Idaho, please pull your
head out of that cloud of smoke
and quit toking up while you’re
driving.
Gordon Isaac
Major: Microelectronics
"No, it affects your judgment. If
you would then why not drink
and drive."
"No, I've done it before and I
know what it does. I had time
lapses."
Major: Microelectronics
"No. You can't handle your
vehicle as well."
Matt Hogue
Ryan Snider
Jesse Boger
Major: Undecided
Major: Undecided
Major: Art and Letters
"I've done it myself. It doesn't
impact your driving, but I think
it could. It shouldn't be allowed."
"Never. Though about that
question, to a certain degree it
would be o.k."
"I do it all the time. Idon'tthi
it should be illegal in the first
place."
Photos and quotes compiled by
Salena De La Cruz and Maggie
Jirasek.
Do you want to go head to
head with one of our
writers?
By Jon Baggs
Bring it on!
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