Breath Test Operators School will no longer be offered as of Nov 1, 2008 and will resume upon the re-implementation of the new breath testing instruments.  Please refer to our website for updated information and scheduling.

The Indiana State Department of Toxicology, or specifically, the Director of the Department, has the responsibility of managing the Alcohol Breath Test Program for the State of Indiana. The responsibility, as laid out in Indiana Code 9-30-6-5, is to adopt rules concerning:

Selection, training, and certification of Breath Test Operators,

Selection and certification of Breath Test Instruments, and

Certification of proper technique for administering a breath test.

The adopted rules are what constitute Indiana Administrative Code 260.

Regional Recertification is now offered.  Training is conducted at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department and the Sellersburg State Police Post.  The Recertification Notice that agencies receive will set forth the location for which officers are assigned.  Please note that the classes commence promptly at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. on the scheduled date.  Officers must attend the location for which they are assigned.  Officers presenting without a scheduled reservation will not be admitted.   The address for the Elkhart County Sheriff's location is 26861 CR 26, Elkhart, Indiana  46517.  The address for the Sellersburg State Police Post is 8014 Highway 311, Sellersburg, Indiana  47172.    

Operators are chosen by means of screening exams, which are given during the initial training class or are given by training officers at individual agencies. Once accepted as candidates, officers must attend and pass a training course, as detailed in 260 IAC. Certified Operators must be recertified at least every two years in order to maintain certification.

Instrument models are initially tested within the Department if acceptable and approved by the Director. Each individual instrument is tested by Department personnel, and if acceptable is placed at an agency within the state. These instruments must be inspected and certified at least every 180 days. Department Inspectors inspect and repair instruments at their agencies, replace parts as needed, and provide other services as needed.

Documentation of all work done on each instrument is maintained in Department files, and is public information.

The proper technique for performing a breath test is referred to as the Approved Method. There is one Approved Method for each approved instrument model.

As of this writing, there is one approved instrument, the BAC DataMaster, and one Approved Method. These instruments work very well, but are based upon electronic circuits developed in the 1970s and 1980s; as time goes on, it will be difficult for the manufacturer to have reliable suppliers for these components. At this time, we are evaluating three new models, one of which will eventually replace the DataMaster. We anticipate that both instrument models will be in use for a 3 to 5 year period. During that time, we will have two approved models and two Approved Methods.