 | First Roadside Drug Test Is False Positive |
 A delivery driver who gave the world's first positive test in a saliva swab roadside drug test in Melbourne later tested negative in the police blood test back at the station and in an independent laboratory test that his lawyers organised.
John De Jong protested his innocence after returning two positive tests for drugs at a random roadside test in Melbourne's inner west last week under a large amount of media attention.
Victoria police have refused to give him an apology after his name and face was in the media. Mr De Jong is considering legal action against police.
Failure in first roadside drug test
Dec 22, 2004
A delivery driver who tested positive to the world's first roadside drug test in Melbourne was cleared of all charges on Thursday by an independent laboratory, his lawyers said.
John De Jong, who drives a van and a small truck for a Melbourne company, protested his innocence after returning two positive tests for drugs at a random roadside test in Melbourne's inner west last week.
His lawyers Slater and Gordon today issued a statement saying Mr De Jong had been vindicated by independent laboratory tests which revealed he had not been driving under the influence of cannabis.
But Mr De Jong, who has not been charged, must await the outcome of police tests before he knows if he is in the clear.
His solicitor Katalin Blonde said the negative test results came as no surprise to Mr De Jong.
"Mr De Jong is pleased that he has been vindicated and now wants to regain some normality in his life and address the damage caused by the publication of incorrect test results," she said.
"He awaits advice from Victoria Police on the results of their third test and is confident it will show a similar result."
The 39-year-old father of two was last week devastated when his image was captured by waiting press photographers and cameramen called by police to witness the world first test.
Mr De Jong, who lives in Ballarat in central Victoria, said his family had been shocked when they saw him on the television news.
Police told him the tests, which detect THC, - the active component in marijuana - and methamphetamine, or speed, in saliva, showed he had smoked marijuana two hours beforehand, he said.
But Mr De Jong, who admits using marijuana two or three times a year, said he had not smoked the drug for a month.
Victoria Police assistant media director Kevin Loomes said he would not comment on the results of Mr De Jong's independent laboratory tests.
Mr De Jong would be notified of his police test results in due course, he said.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_world_story_skin/465725%3fformat=html
Police won't apologise to innocent drug test driver
December 22, 2004 - 12:10PM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Police-wont-apologise-to-innocent-drug-test-driver/2004/12/22/1103391812043.html
A driver picked up under ground-breaking roadside drug testing in Melbourne last week is demanding an apology after police tests today confirmed his innocence.
John De Jong, of Ballarat, was said to have tested positive to amphetamines and cannabis when he was pulled over in his work van last week. Mr De Jong maintained his innocence and said he had last smoked cannabis four weeks before he was tested.
He had his blood sample tested at an independent laboratory, with the results showing no traces of drugs. Today, Victoria Police told Mr De Jong their own tests had confirmed he was innocent.
Victoria Police vowed to continue the program and are not offering Mr De Jong an apology for the stress his family has endured. Mr De Jong today said he was shocked the police were refusing to say sorry.
"They put me in front of the media from the word go, and said I had tested positive to amphetamines and cannabis," he said. "Their tests and my tests show that not to be true and they are not even willing to apologise - I just think that is wrong."
Mr De Jong's wife Kay said the family had been aware of people in Ballarat talking about them, and said her husband deserved an apology. Their 13-year-old daughter Belinda broke down as she told of the pressure on the family.
"We are very relieved that all this has come out now, that everyone should know now that my dad is an innocent person," Belinda said. "It has been very hard on us all."
Mr De Jong said he was considering legal action against police.
AAP
Note: Newshawk: MrZippy
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