ACLU Challenges Rave Parties Rules
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against a federal crackdown on rave parties in New Orleans.
Federal prosecutors pressured the organizers of an upcoming rave into a plea-bargain arrangement that would prohibit the use of glow sticks, pacifiers, vapor rubs and masks -- all associated with use of the club drug ecstasy.
"It's a form of behavior control because they feel these people might do something illegal if they posses these items," said Joe Cook, director of Louisiana's ACLU chapter.  "Maybe next they'll ban dancing, since people often dance while on drugs. That's the absurdity we're dealing with."
The lawsuit seeks a ruling before a scheduled rave party this weekend. The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of the band Rabbit in the Moon, which is scheduled to perform.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said it was unusual for a third party to intervene in a criminal plea agreement. "We were cognizant of the legitimate Constitutional rights of individuals, but also had to consider the welfare, health, and safety of the citizens and had to strike a balance of various factors in reaching that decision," Letten said.
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More Employees Challenging Drug-Test Results
A growing number of employees are challenging positive results of drug tests, claiming that errors and careless practices in the drug-testing industry are costing them their jobs.
Davey Burroughs, who worked for several years at a technology company in Durham, N.C., was escorted off company property after a drug test revealed traces of cocaine in his urine. "I told them it's not possible, because I'm not a user," Burroughs said. "But the doctor said there was no way it could show a false positive, and that I must have either smoked or inhaled it. It was an absolute horror."
To clear his name, Burroughs purchased a test kit at a pharmacy and took it to a Durham clinic to be checked. It came back negative. He was later reinstated to his position.
Several substances are known to cause false-positive readings in drug tests.
For instance...
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