We seem to be living in a police state where the 60s never happened.
The roadside drug testing is rampant these days and after reading Mary Sweet’s letter regarding her friend’s experience with this, I want to let people know we do have an alternative to this harassment.
Seriously Fact Up, on BayFM (Wed, 6am-9am), did a story on this last week and they have now posted on their FB site a card suitable for printing.
It states your rights which includes saying NO to being searched. Yes, if you are driving erratically and endangering lives and property the police should intervene but this random stopping people and subjecting them to ingesting chemicals reeks of a society we should be protesting.
What happened to the principal of being innocent until proven guilty?
These drug tests are invasive, costly and not reliable.
I have printed out the Statement For Police card, am carrying it in my wallet and I urge everyone to do the same.
With Mullum Music Fest on our doorstep, these police checks will be increasing. We need to band together and refuse this treatment before more of our rights are eroded away.
Sue Harrison, Ocean Shores
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
