WSR 99-17-064

EMERGENCY RULES

STATE TOXICOLOGIST


[ Filed August 13, 1999, 1:23 p.m. ]

Date of Adoption: August 12, 1999.

Purpose: To extend a previous emergency provision (WSR 99-10-018) that was put in place to assist with the interpretation of breath alcohol test results. This provision would otherwise have expired August 24, 1999. The change makes clear that in order for tests conducted on or after April 1, 1999, to be admissible on or after April 27, 1999, the external standard test results must be between 0.072 and 0.088. For tests conducted prior to April 1, 1999, the rules in effect at that time would apply.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 448-13-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.61.506.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: This measure is necessary to ensure that breath alcohol tests should be admissible if the appropriate scientific criteria are applied. A drafting error in the original adoption (WSR 99-06-048) caused confusion about the appropriate criteria for an acceptable test. Preventing a trier of fact from considering this evidence could lead to wrongful disposition of a criminal case, which would be contrary to the public interest. An objection to expedited adoption of the permanent rule (WSR 99-10-019) has delayed its permanent adoption and necessitated this extension.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

August 11, 1999

Barry K. Logan Ph.D.

State Toxicologist

OTS-3103.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 95-20-025, filed 9/27/95, effective 10/28/95)

WAC 448-13-060
Validity and certification of test results.

A test shall be a valid test and so certified, if the requirements of WAC 448-13-040, 448-13-050 and 448-13-055 are met, and in addition the following criteria for precision and accuracy, as determined solely from the breath test document, are met:

(1) The internal standard test results in the message "verified."

(2) In order to be valid, the two breath samples must agree to within plus or minus ten percent of their mean.  This shall be determined as follows:

(a) The breath test results shall be reported, truncated to three decimal places.

(b) The mean of the two breath test results shall be calculated and rounded to four decimal places.

(c) The lower acceptable limit shall be determined by multiplying the above mean by 0.9, and truncating to three decimal places.

(d) The upper acceptable limit shall be determined by multiplying the mean by 1.1 and truncating to three decimal places.

(e) If the results fall within and inclusive of the upper and lower acceptable limits, the two breath samples are valid.

(3) The simulator external standard result must lie between .090 to .110 inclusive for tests conducted prior to April 1, 1999, and .072 to .088 inclusive for tests conducted on or after April 1, 1999. This provision is remedial in nature and applies to any judicial proceeding conducted after April 27, 1999.

(4) All four blank tests must give results of .000.

If these criteria are met, then these and no other factors are necessary to indicate the proper working order of the instrument, and so certify it, at the time of the breath test.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.61.506.  95-20-025, § 448-13-060, filed 9/27/95, effective 10/28/95; 91-06-022, § 448-13-060, filed 2/26/91, effective 3/29/91.]

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