LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WGNS NEWS) - The La Vergne Police Department is preparing to use a roadside screening device known as the SoToxa Mobile Test System, and officials are working to explain what the technology does - and what it does not do.
The SoToxa system is an oral fluid screening tool designed to assist law enforcement during investigations involving suspected impaired drivers. The device can help officers gather additional information when narcotics or other substances may be contributing to a person’s condition.
Police emphasized that the system will not be used randomly and will not determine whether someone should be arrested. According to the department, the device will only be used after officers have already established probable cause and an arrest has been made.
That distinction is important because the SoToxa system is not replacing traditional investigative steps. Field sobriety testing, officer observations, probable cause requirements, and evidentiary blood testing remain central parts of impaired driving cases.
La Vergne Police said results from the SoToxa device are not admissible in court. Instead, blood testing remains the evidentiary standard and would be used in court proceedings.
The department described the technology as an additional tool that can help officers better understand what may be affecting a person during an impaired driving investigation. While alcohol remains a common factor in DUI cases, law enforcement agencies across the country are also dealing with drivers who may be impaired by narcotics, prescription medications, or other substances.
Officials said roadside screening can be useful in complex situations where a person shows signs of impairment, but the cause is not immediately clear.
In some cases, police said a person may not be impaired by drugs or alcohol at all. Instead, the individual could be experiencing a medical emergency, such as a diabetic episode, neurological condition, or another health-related crisis that can appear similar to impairment.
La Vergne Police said that when officers determine a medical condition may be involved, the priority shifts to getting that person appropriate medical care as quickly as possible. Additional information from screening technology may help first responders make more informed decisions at the scene.
The department said its goal is to protect the public while conducting fair, thorough, and professional investigations. Officials also stressed that transparency is important when new technology is introduced into law enforcement operations.
Police are encouraging residents to ask questions and stay informed about how the SoToxa system will be used. The department said the device is intended to support responsible policing by helping officers identify possible impairment, recognize potential medical emergencies, and improve public safety.
La Vergne Police said the mission remains focused on protecting citizens through professional, fair, and careful enforcement.
The SoToxa Mobile Test System, developed by Abbott Toxicology, is a handheld, portable analyzer used by law enforcement for rapid roadside drug screening. The device uses a simple oral fluid, or saliva, swab to detect the possible presence of multiple active substances in about five minutes. Abbott is also widely known in the medical technology field for developing health care products and medical devices, including implantable devices such as spinal cord stimulators.
