Section 40. Approval of manufacturers and service providers

A. The commission shall issue a request in compliance with the Commonwealth of Virginia procurement procedures to contract with ignition interlock service providers for the services and commodities required for the implementation and maintenance of the Commonwealth's ignition interlock program. Contracts will be for a length of time established by the commission.

B. Integrity of the ignition interlock program shall be upheld by restricting the delivery of interlock service to the actual provider of the product (authorized service provider), thereby effectively preventing the extension of subcontracts to other persons or businesses that lack long-term investment, long-term experience, or in-depth knowledge of product and service, potentially resulting in a higher likelihood of neglect of duty or illegal exchange of funds. Denial of subcontracting of the interlock service to the consumer is an integral part of protecting offender confidentiality and the chain of evidence for court testimony and evidentiary procedures.

C. A service provider seeking to contract with the commission shall:

1. Submit evidence demonstrating successful experience in the development and maintenance of an ignition interlock service program in Virginia, other states, or other countries. The service provider shall be dedicated to the installation and maintenance of ignition interlock devices;

2. Supply and train staff and service center supervisors to ensure good customer service and compliance with all contract requirements.

a. Personnel seeking to perform ignition interlock services or administrative duties in the Commonwealth of Virginia shall not necessarily be barred from employment due to a criminal record; however, a criminal record may be considered in conjunction with other information to determine the overall suitability of applicants for employment.

b. The authorized service provider shall provide, upon request of the commission or the court via a properly served subpoena, expert or other required testimony in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings as to the method of manufacturing the device, ignition interlock functionality, and the testing protocol by which the device is calibrated and serviced.

c. The service provider shall provide a completed application for state certification to the commission to perform ignition interlock services for all technicians and state directors seeking to work in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The application shall be submitted at least 10 days prior to the employee performing any ignition interlock services in the Commonwealth of Virginia with the exception of newly hired employees in training who shall be permitted to perform services while under the direct supervision of a certified technician for a period of 90 days prior to applying for state certification.

d. The service provider shall identify all key personnel who will be providing ignition interlock services for the Commonwealth of Virginia and furnish the commission with credentials on these personnel.

e. The service provider shall notify the commission at least five business days in advance of a reduction in staffing levels of key personnel at the local or district offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

f. The service provider shall ensure that technicians and the state director are trained and available to testify in court if required by a court or Commonwealth's Attorney or upon a 10-business-day notice by the ASAP in that court's jurisdiction, regardless of whether a subpoena is issued;

3. Submit a description of the service provider's plan to be approved by the commission, for distribution of the device in all locations of the Commonwealth of Virginia where ignition interlock services will be performed. At least one physical ignition interlock service facility shall be located within a 50-mile radius of every residence in the Commonwealth of Virginia unless otherwise authorized by the commission. Ignition interlock service providers shall provide the commission with a list of all service center days and hours of operation and provide an updated list within 24 hours of any changes. Interlock service facilities shall be inspected and certified by the commission prior to the initial provision of services to offenders. Each interlock service facility shall be inspected and certified at least annually thereafter. Interlock service providers shall:

a. Comply with all local business license and zoning regulations, and with all federal, state, and local health, fire, and building code requirements. Prior to the jurisdictional compliance deadline, a copy of a valid business license or business license payment receipt shall be forwarded to the commission. The official valid business license and tax document are required to be posted in a conspicuous place at the service facility immediately upon receipt when applicable;

b. Comply with all local, state, and federal laws pertaining to the provision of physical access to persons with disabilities;

c. Maintain offender records in a manner that complies with federal confidentiality guidelines. All offender files, payment receipts, and other identifying information shall be located in locked filing cabinets in one centralized location in the Richmond, Virginia area. Electronic storage of client files shall be encrypted and secured to prevent third party access;

d. Require and enforce maintenance of a drug-free workplace and have posted in a conspicuous place, available to employees and applicants for employment, a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or marijuana is prohibited in the service provider's workplace. The notice shall specify the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of the policy;

e. Replace an ignition interlock service facility within 90 days whenever the closing of an interlock service facility results in noncompliance with the requirement to possess a facility within a 50-mile radius of every residence in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The service provider is also required to notify offenders of the closure date and the address of an alternate interlock service facility within 15 days of the closure date;

f. Ensure that technicians maintain a professional appearance and are attired in such a manner as to be readily identifiable as service provider employees;

g. Ensure that interlock service facilities are tidy and pose no hazards to public safety; and

h. Provide the commission a minimum of 20 days notice prior to the scheduled opening date of a new location. This requirement allows the commission reasonable time to schedule an inspection of the new facility prior to opening services to ASAP offenders;

4. Submit sufficient documentation to enable the verification of adequate insurance covering liability related to ignition interlock operations, services, and equipment, including coverage in Virginia, with a minimum policy limit of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million general aggregate total. The service provider's liability insurance shall be considered primary above all other available insurance and shall so stipulate in the "other insurance" or other applicable section of the service provider's insurance contract. The service provider shall provide a signed statement from the manufacturer holding harmless the Commonwealth of Virginia and the commission and its members, employees, and agents from all claims, demands, and actions as a result of damage or injury to persons or property that may arise directly or indirectly out of an act or omission by the manufacturer or its service provider relating to the installation, service, repair, use, or removal of an ignition interlock device. Coverage shall extend to any action taken or not taken by ASAPs or the commission due to verified errors in reporting of interlock activity by the service provider;

5. Submit documentation that the service provider will provide a full-time state ignition interlock director who will work exclusively with the Virginia interlock program. Among other duties, the state ignition interlock director will be expected to (i) respond promptly to problems in the field; (ii) upon request of the commission testify before applicable courts, the General Assembly of Virginia, or the commission; (iii) assist and provide training to the commission, ASAP staffs, local and statewide, and other stakeholders as requested by the commission; and (iv) be responsible for quality control reports and statistics, updates to all required documentation, and field services reporting and repairs. In the event of a state director vacancy, service providers shall submit to the commission the name of an interim state director within 10 days of the vacancy and the name of a permanent state director within 90 days of the vacancy;

6. Not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment due to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or other basis prohibited by state or federal law relating to discrimination in employment, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the service provider. The service provider agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause. Furthermore, the service provider in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the service provider shall state that the contractor is an equal opportunity employer. Notices, advertisements, and solicitations placed in accordance with federal law, rule, or regulation shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of meeting the requirements of this subdivision;

7. Not knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in the Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-603; 100 Stat. 3359) during the performance of the contract for goods and services; and

8. Notify the commission in writing within 15 days of a disciplinary action taken by a state or other political entity in which the service provider conducts or has conducted ignition interlock business. This notification shall include the reason for the disciplinary action and other information as the commission may reasonably request. This requirement applies regardless of the existence of an appeal.

D. Provided that all vendor and device certification requirements are met, the commission may contract with those manufacturers or service providers and may approve multiple makes and models of ignition interlock devices for use in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 26, Issue 05, eff. January 1, 2010; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 21, eff. July 18, 2016.

Statutory Authority

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