Speed monitoring devices, including photo systems, radar/LIDAR, noise violation monitoring systems, and blood alcohol content (BAC) readers are all tools used by law enforcement to help keep the roads and our communities safe. They also have another thing in common; they are all devices/systems that must be maintained through a process known as calibration.
Calibration is the process of adjusting, testing, and verifying a device to make sure it gives accurate, repeatable, and reliable results. This is done through measuring the device readings against a known and certified standard and making the necessary adjustments.
Why it Matters
Law enforcement relies on these devices to make arrests and issue citations. If these types of devices are not serviced and properly calibrated at regular intervals, it may lead to false arrests, incorrect citations, and further legal challenges.
There have been several cases where improper or even negligent maintenance and calibration practices have led to legal challenges across the U.S. Two notable examples are:
- Massachusetts Breathalyzer Scandal: From 2011-2019, there were thousands of DUI cases that had to be dismissed or revisited across the state due to incorrect maintenance and calibration practices.
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD): From 2008-2023, it was discovered that the CMPD had been using radar and LIDAR speed monitoring devices that were not in line with the certification requirements set by North Carolina law. 170 out of 230 devices had been tested by technicians that did not have the proper certification, potentially affecting thousands of cases over a 15-year period.
Given these examples, there can be serious consequences when these devices are not properly maintained. One way for law enforcement to add a barrier of protection is to utilize accredited laboratories to conduct the calibration of the devices.
ISO/IEC 17025 is the internationally recognized, globally accepted standard for testing and calibration laboratories. By utilizing an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory, it is ensuring that the calibration is coming from an independently evaluated calibration laboratory that has demonstrated technical competence and metrological traceability, that is, an unbroken linkage to the International System of Units (SI) through reference standards. Results produced by these accredited calibration laboratories are validated and defensible.
What Can Be Done
Several states have introduced legislation that begins to help ensure the integrity and accuracy of the devices by mandating certain maintenance and calibration requirements. States such as New York and South Carolina have goals of passing legislation that would bolster their programs through the use of independent laboratories. A similar approach is also happening in Washington, DC at the city council level.
These states have the following regulations already in place:
- Delaware – Requires that all electronic speed monitoring systems undergo annual calibration performed by an independent calibration laboratory.
- Washington State Patrol- Mandates that any calibration of ignition interlock devices be performed by laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
Our Ask
To ensure that law enforcement devices are appropriately calibrated, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory should be utilized. The following language be incorporated into relevant legislation and regulations:
“Each device shall undergo an annual calibration check performed by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory, granted by a Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated signatory.”
Contact your elected officials and ask them to include this language in legislation regarding the calibration of devices used by law enforcement.
For more information regarding accreditation, contact A2LA at info@A2LA.org, or reach out to A2LA Director of Government Relations Randy Querry at rquerry@A2LA.org. To begin the accreditation process for your organization, visit A2LA.org/estimate-request.
*Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated may also be referred to as International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and International Accreditation Forum.