The Foundation for the Defense of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has initiated legal proceedings against the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR), citing the refusal of the latter to disclose crucial data concerning the accuracy of drug testing equipment utilised in roadside checks. The judicial body is scheduled to deliver its ruling on Friday, 11th April 2025. FACIAS's position is that citizens should have access to information regarding the error rate of these devices, potential interactions with drugs or food, and the risk of false positive results.
In July 2024, FACIAS submitted a request to IGPR for data pertaining to the number, cost and efficiency of the DrugTest Drager 5000 machines utilised by the Traffic Police. The request also encompassed details of the procurement procedures and technical documents that would substantiate the accuracy of the machines.
The IGPR's response was deemed to be both partial and evasive. The institution transmitted that it possesses 800 machines, each purchased at a cost of approximately 14,000 lei, and that the results offered are of the screening type, requiring laboratory confirmation. However, the IGPR did not address the following questions: firstly, whether documentation pertaining to the accuracy of the machines, potential errors or risks of external contamination was requested at the time of purchase; and secondly, whether the IGPR had received any complaints regarding the equipment or its performance.
The absence of such clarifications engenders uncertainty and has the potential to result in grave consequences, including the suspension of driving licences without justification and the initiation of criminal proceedings against innocent individuals.
In the context of the court action, FACIAS is seeking to compel the disclosure of information pertaining to these tests, which exert a direct influence on citizens' fundamental rights. The absence of transparency in this sensitive domain serves only to exacerbate the prevailing distrust in the authorities, thereby creating a conducive environment for potential abuse.