But that argument, being made by Gov. Jon Huntsman's staff members who are pushing for drug testing, is not convincing. And without some proof it would work, drug testing is not worth the cost in employee morale and dignity.

We understand why the state demands that employees who carry guns, provide medical care, drive vehicles or operate heavy equipment on the job be drug- and alcohol-free.

Invading their privacy by collecting and testing their urine can be justified in terms of public safety.

But where is the evidence that Utahns are at serious risk from state employees who have access to credit card and Social Security numbers, addresses and bank account numbers? What leads anyone to believe that these employees are most likely to have drug or alcohol addictions that would inevitably lead them to steal identities?

Identity theft, the fastest-growing crime in America, is a serious problem. We have no argument with most methods to prevent the use of someone's personal information to steal cash, fraudulently obtain loans and purchase highticket items. And we acknowledge that one former state employee has been charged with stealing the personal information of some Utah residents.

But one case does not justify invading the privacy of so many state employees, none of whom is suspected of any crime.

Drug testing is intrusive. Someone has to supervise as employees collect urine specimens. And the humiliation can be compounded if there is a false positive result, as can happen with intake of legal medicines and some foods. The state could and should be liable if an employee were fired because of a mistake.

As the American Civil Liberties Union has pointed out in court cases, even a true-positive drug test result only reveals that the employee took a drug at some time in the past. It certainly cannot indicate whether the employee is likely to commit a crime at work, or link drug use to that likelihood.

Until Huntsman's staff can provide evidence that drug testing of this cohort of state workers would protect Utah citizens, the governor should look at proven ways to guard against identity theft.