[PART XIV.  BLOOD ALCOHOL]

     §321-161  Chemical testing for alcohol concentration or drug content.  (a)  The department of health shall establish and administer a statewide program relating to chemical testing of alcohol concentrations or drug content for the purposes of chapters 286, 291, 291C, and 291E, with the consultation of the state director of transportation.  Under the program, appropriate procedures shall be established for specifying:

     (1)  The qualifications of personnel who administer chemical tests used to determine alcohol concentrations or drug content;

     (2)  The procedures for specimen selection, collection, handling, and analysis; and

     (3)  The manner of reporting and tabulating the results.

     (b)  The director of health may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section. [L 1973, c 139, §1; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; am L 1990, c 188, §9; am L Sp 1991, c 1, §18; am L 1997, c 103, §10; am L 2001, c 157, §30]

Case Notes

  The health department rules are applicable only to the proceedings enumerated in this section; and when the State seeks to introduce the breathalyzer results in a prosecution outside the ambit of this section, it must establish a foundation independent of the rules.  1 H. App. 625, 623 P.2d 1271 (1981).

  Intoxilyzer test result inadmissible where officer administering test had less than required training and had not been issued appropriate permit.  5 H. App. 575, 704 P.2d 927 (1985).

  To admit intoxilyzer test result, there must be strict compliance with rules having direct bearing on validity and accuracy of test result.  6 H. App. 554, 732 P.2d 253 (1987).

  Where intoxilyzer not checked for accuracy, test results inadmissible, though operator followed operational checklist and device allegedly "fail-safe".  6 H. App. 569, 733 P.2d 326 (1987).