Section 90. Calibration and monitoring visit

A. Only calibration units (i) found on the current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Conforming Products List of Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers or (ii) approved by the commission shall be used by the service provider to calibrate ignition interlock devices.

B. The service provider shall:

1. Provide service and monitoring of the ignition interlock device at least every 30 days. All ignition interlock calibrations shall occur at a service provider interlock service facility unless otherwise approved by the commission;

2. Calibrate the ignition interlock device at each service appointment using a dry gas or wet bath reference sample. The service provider shall ensure that dry gas and wet bath reference values are adjusted in a manner approved by the commission;

3. Calibrate the ignition interlock device for accuracy by using a wet bath simulator or dry gas alcohol standard with an alcohol reference value between.030 and.050 g/210L;

4. Expel a three-second purge from the wet bath simulator or dry gas standard prior to introducing the alcohol reference sample into the ignition interlock device;

5. Perform an accuracy check that will consist of two consecutive reference checks with the result of each individual check being within plus or minus 10% or 0.003, whichever is smaller, of the alcohol reference value introduced into the ignition interlock device. The time period between the first and second consecutive accuracy check shall not exceed five minutes;

6. House and use wet bath simulators in environmentally stable, temperature controlled settings. Wet bath simulators shall contain mercury-in-glass thermometers or digital thermometers. The thermometers shall read 34°C, plus or minus 0.2°C, during analysis and be certified annually using a National Institute of Standards and Technology traceable digital reference thermometer. In addition, the service provider shall use alcohol reference solutions prepared and tested in a laboratory with reference values traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The 500-ml bottles containing simulator solution shall be tamper proof and labeled with the lot or batch number, value of the reference sample in g/210L, and date of preparation or expiration. Alcohol reference solutions must be used prior to expiration and within one year from the date of preparation. In addition, wet bath simulator solutions shall be replaced every 30 days or prior to every 30th test, whichever occurs first. A sticker shall be placed on the wet bath simulator indicating the date of the most recent simulator solution replacement. In addition, a written logbook or electronic database recording the date and result of each simulator test shall be maintained on site;

7. Store dry gas alcohol standard tanks in a manner consistent with the gas manufacturer's specifications. The dry gas tanks shall have a label attached that contains the components and concentration of the reference value of the gas, an expiration date that shall not be longer than three years from the date of preparation, and the lot or batch number. Dry gas alcohol standards must be certified to a known reference value and be traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The reference value shall be adjusted for changes in elevation and pressure. Interlock service vendors shall possess a certificate of analysis from the dry gas standard manufacturer. Dry gas tanks shall be secured in a manner as to prevent harm to the public;

8. Retrieve data from the ignition interlock device data log for the previous period and electronically submit it to the ASAP within 24 hours of calibration;

9. Record the odometer reading of the vehicle;

10. Check the ignition interlock device and wiring for signs of circumvention or tampering and electronically report violations to ASAP within the required timeframe established by the commission;

11. Collect the monthly monitoring fee from the offender. If an offender who has not been declared to be indigent by the court is three or more months delinquent in payments, the service provider may, in its discretion, refuse to provide calibration services, but shall not remove the ignition interlock device without authorization from the commission;

12. Verify that the offender has a photo identification prior to calibrating the ignition interlock device if photo identification was not already presented at the time of installation; and

13. Conform to other calibration requirements established by the commission, as applicable.

C. All malfunctions of the ignition interlock device shall be repaired or the ignition interlock device replaced by the service provider within 48 hours at no additional expense to the offender. If it is shown that the malfunction is due to damage to the device as a result of mistreatment or improper use, the offender shall be responsible for applicable repair fees.

D. A certified technician shall be available at the service center during specified hours to answer questions and to deal with mechanical concerns that may arise with a motor vehicle as a result of the ignition interlock device.

E. The ignition interlock device shall record, at a minimum, the following data:

1. The time and date of failed breath tests;

2. The time and date of passed breath tests;

3. The breath alcohol level of all tests;

4. The time and date of attempts to tamper or circumvent the ignition interlock device;

5. A photo of each person delivering an accepted breath test sample for analysis by the ignition interlock device; and

6. A reference photo of the offender.

F. At the time of device calibration, a service provider may charge a monthly monitoring fee. The maximum permissible cost for monitoring and calibration shall be set by the commission through the ignition interlock regulations, and service providers shall not be permitted to exceed the maximum fee established by the commission. A portion of these fees shall include costs for administrative support and offender indigency funds. In addition to the maximum fee permitted, service providers may collect applicable taxes and charge for optional insurance to cover device theft and accidental damage. Fees for the first monthly monitoring and calibration visit will be collected from the user in advance at the time of installation and monthly thereafter when services are rendered.

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.