Section 130. Service provider technician certification

A. Service provider state directors and technicians are required to possess a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Newly hired technicians, however, may perform ignition interlock services under the direct supervision of a certified technician for training purposes for up to 90 days prior to obtaining a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter. In order to apply for a certification letter, service providers shall submit a completed application to the commission for approval of newly hired technicians and state directors. If approved by the commission, this application process may be waived for technicians and state directors providing interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia prior to June 30, 2016. The completed application shall include submission of:

1. A completed applicant form provided by the commission;

2. A complete local and national criminal history check;

3. A complete driver's record; and

4. Documentation issued by the commission of successful completion of the Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Exam.

Failure to submit a completed application will result in disqualification from consideration for a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter by the commission to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The commission reserves the right to deny a certification letter to an interlock service provider technician or state director due to concerns identified in the application to include, but not be limited to, criminal history background and driver's transcript issues.

B. Applicants shall be required to complete a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Exam. Successful completion of the exam requires a score of 80% or higher. Applicants who fail to successfully complete the state certification exam on the first attempt shall be allowed a second opportunity to successfully complete the exam. Applicants who fail to successfully complete the state certification exam on the second attempt shall not be allowed to reapply to provide ignition interlock services for the Commonwealth of Virginia for six months from the date of the second failed exam. Service providers shall be required to pay an administrative fee, as provided in 24VAC35-60-50 B 3, to the commission for all second and subsequent attempts to successfully complete the state certification exam. Applicants who successfully pass the state certification exam will receive documentation of successful completion from the commission that shall be submitted with the application for a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

C. The commission may revoke, suspend, or terminate a previously issued Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter for a service provider technician or state director for any of the following reasons:

1. The technician or state director is convicted of a felony;

2. The technician or state director is convicted of a misdemeanor potentially punishable by confinement;

3. The technician or state director commits an unethical or dishonest act that negatively impacts the integrity of the ignition interlock program;

4. The technician or state director fails to demonstrate the ability to consistently comply with ordinances, statutes, administrative rules, or court orders, whether at the local, state, or federal level; or

5. The technician or state director fails to demonstrate possession of the knowledge required to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

A service provider technician or state director whose Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter has been suspended or revoked may request, within 15 days of notification, a hearing with the commission to contest the decision. In the event that the decision to suspend or revoke the Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter of a service provider's technician or state director is upheld, the technician or state director shall not perform interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the entire suspension period, to include any period of contestment, or in the case of a revocation or termination, on a permanent basis. The service provider is required to return the Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter to the commission within 15 days of the date that the certification was suspended, revoked, or terminated, by the commission.

D. Once the completed application has been approved by the commission and all other qualifications have been met by the applicant, a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia shall be issued to the applicant by the commission. The certification letter shall contain the effective date of the letter and a certification number specific to the applicant. The certification letter will be valid for a time period specified by the commission unless otherwise suspended, revoked, or terminated but for no longer than the service provider contract end date. In the event that an applicant is not approved for a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter to perform interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the commission will notify the service provider in writing within 10 days of the determination. The Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter is subject to review by the commission at its discretion during the course of the certification period.

E. An application to renew a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter for an ignition interlock technician or state director shall be submitted 30 days prior to the expiration date printed on the current certification letter. A technician or state director who has had his state certification revoked or terminated shall be ineligible to reapply for a Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letter unless otherwise approved by the commission.

F. Service providers are required to surrender Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Letters for technicians and state directors who are no longer employed with their company. The surrendered certification letter shall be sent to the commission within 15 days of the date that the technician or state director is no longer employed with the service provider.

G. In addition to the successful completion of the Virginia Ignition Interlock Certification Exam required for application, the commission may order that a technician or state director performing ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia review requirements and retake the state certification exam to demonstrate that the technician or state director possesses the knowledge required to perform ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 32, Issue 21, eff. July 18, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§§ 18.2-270.1 and 18.2-270.2 of the Code of Virginia.