The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) announced on Friday that the validity of DWI breath test results, which were previously questioned, has been confirmed. This conclusion follows a thorough investigation into data entry errors that arose during control tests.
Earlier this month, the BCA instructed law enforcement agencies statewide to halt the use of DataMaster breath testing instruments while the accuracy of the data entered into these devices was assessed. The concerns primarily stemmed from issues identified during the replacement of dry gas cylinders used in control tests, as highlighted by BCA Superintendent Drew Evans.
At a press conference, Evans reaffirmed the reliability of these instruments, stating, “As I said before, we stand behind the instruments and the validity of the testing and the reliability of the instruments across Minnesota. Our scientists are prepared to testify to the results of the new calculations and the instruments that they have done for a long time.”
The BCA first detected data entry errors in September, prompting an immediate response from several law enforcement agencies, including the St. Paul police and sheriff”s offices for Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington counties. These agencies were able to resume the use of breath tests shortly after the BCA”s directive.
Scientists at the BCA conducted recalculations of the affected tests using the correct alcohol concentration for the installed gas cylinder. They concluded that the control tests were successful and fell within acceptable margins despite the earlier data entry mistakes. BCA officials are prepared to testify regarding the validity of these control tests, and they have informed law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys whose cases may have been impacted.
DataMaster machines, which are utilized in various law enforcement offices across Minnesota, administer between 19,000 and 20,000 tests annually, according to the BCA. Initial data entry errors were identified in counties such as Aitkin, Winona, and Chippewa, with further discrepancies later discovered in Hennepin and Olmsted counties.
To mitigate future issues, the BCA has implemented a ban on law enforcement personnel replacing dry gas cylinders for DataMaster instruments. Going forward, only BCA personnel will be authorized to perform these replacements. Additionally, access to the dry gas cylinder compartment on all DataMaster instruments will be restricted.
As of Friday, more than half of the DataMaster instruments have been confirmed to have proper installations and are secured. This verification process is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Training for DataMaster operators has also been updated, with future updates to be posted on the BCA website.
