I have recently been placed on "Color Code" (My local government’s drug testing program).

The strange thing of the matter is that I was not placed on this program for anything involving drugs.

The company that conducts the drug screening, Court Referral is privately owned, but has a contract with the court system and the courts receive a percentage of any profits made by the company.

Consequently, the municipal judge is not on a salary but receives pay based on court fees and a percentage of this money made by Court Referral.

I feel that court ordered drug testing is simply a money racket designed to line the judge’s pocket.

I was in court with a docket of 133 people and of the 76 that showed for court, 54 were placed on Court Referral. Most of the charges were minor traffic violations.

The drug tests cost 35 dollars each time a person is given one.

The way it works is every morning a person is to call the office and if the color that they have been designated is on the recording then they report for a drug screen. Several of the colors are called every six days. That’s 210 dollars a month plus the monthly fee of 40 dollars. At 250 dollars a month some people are not able to pay rent and bills.

Thank you for your time and attention.