§ 6-80-39 — Drug screening

Sec. 6-80-39. - Drug screening.

A. Every driver holding a valid permit shall be subject to random drug screening as established in this section. This program shall require testing monthly of at least three percent taxi drivers, and three percent for carriage, and limousine and other drivers. Drivers shall be selected for drug and alcohol testing on a random basis, by using a scientifically valid random number generation method approved by the city. Upon selection, the permits office shall notify the certificate holder for whom the driver works. The certificate holder shall be responsible for notifying the driver. Once advised of the required test, a driver must take the test within 24 hours. The permits office will use testing locations already approved by the city. B. The cost of the testing shall be borne by the certificate holder if the results are negative. If the results are positive, the cost of the test shall be borne by the driver tested. The results of all tests shall be immediately provided to the permits office. C. Drivers will be subject to urine drug and breath alcohol testing. Drug testing will be for any illegal drug or substance including but not limited to amphetamines, cocaine or its derivatives, marijuana, opiates and phencyclidine (PCP). Illegal use includes use of any illegal drug, misuse of legally prescribed drugs, and use of illegally obtained prescription drugs. Breath alcohol testing will be considered positive at a 0.04 alcohol level or higher. D. The use of a controlled substance is not prohibited, which is prescribed by a treating medical physician, if this physician makes a good faith judgement that use of the substance by the driver at the prescribed dosage level is consistent with the safe performance of the driver's duties. Drivers using a controlled substance prescribed by a treating physician must immediately notify the certificate holder that they are taking such medication. The certificate holder may request a doctor's certificate verifying the treatment. Abuse of a prescribed controlled substance is prohibited. E. Any driver who refuses to comply with a request for testing, who provided false information in connection with a test, or who attempts to falsify tests results through tampering, contamination, adulteration or substitution shall have his or her permit revoked immediately. Refusal can include an inability to provide a specimen or breath sample without a valid medical examination, and a verbal declaration, obstructive behavior, or physical absence resulting in the inability to conduct the test. F. Any driver who tests positive under the random testing procedure will be subject to the following: 1. Suspension of permit for one week; 2. Referral to an assessment by a substance abuse professional (SAP); 3. Return to work drug and alcohol tests at the end of the week; 4. Completing a return to work agreement outlining terms of return to work, including ongoing treatment and additional random testing for up to five years with a minimum of six tests that first year. G. Any driver who has a second positive test under any testing circumstance within three years is subject to revocation. H. No driver who has had a permit revoked for failing drug screening shall be eligible for a permit for six months following revocation. At the end of that period, any re-application must include evidence that the driver has undergone treatment for substance abuse and proof of a negative drug screen within one week of the application reinstatement. I. A driver who fails a drug/alcohol test within three years of a first suspension shall have his or her permit revoked for two years. A third violation shall result in a permanent revocation. J. 1. Testing shall be done on all drivers subject to a fitness for work evaluation when there are reasons to believe that drug or alcohol use is adversely affecting job performance. The certificate holder and the permits office will make reasonable suspicion determinations. 2. Testing shall be done on all drivers involved in an accident that results in a fatality or injuries requiring immediate transportation to a medical facility or the driver receives citation by local law enforcement officers, or if one or more vehicle incurs disabling damage that requires towing, pushing, etc., from the site and driver receives a citation for a moving violation arising from the accident. 3. Following an accident, the driver will be tested as soon as possible, but not to exceed eight hours for alcohol testing and 32 hours for drug testing. Any driver involved in an accident must refrain from alcohol use for eight hours following the accident or until he or she undergoes a post accident alcohol test. Any employee who leaves the scene of the accident prior to the submission to the drug/alcohol test will be considered to have refused the test and subject to permit revocation. K. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the drug/alcohol testing process. The permits office will maintain results in the strictest confidence in a medical file separate from the official personnel file. In cases where disciplinary action results from positive test, such information shall be shared only with those in a supervisory capacity involved in that action.

(Code 1985, § 39-37.1; Ord. No. 4941, 5-7-2002)