Office of Forensic Sciences: Alcotest

Frequently Asked Questions

Who to contact for help?

Where can I find the Serial Number, File Number and date information required to perform searches?

What is the cost of Alcotest searches?

What is a Portal Administration Fee?

What is an Electronic Check?

When will I receive the Alcotest records purchased?

I forgot to download my documents, can I still retrieve them?

In what formats are the Alcotest records available?

Can the ASC document be accessed using an Excel application?

Are there any limitations on the number of times I can access the records purchased?

What are the different types of instrument “Certification” records available?

What types of searches can be conducted on the centralized database?

What are the explanations of the data file column headers?

Why are the headers for the downloaded certification data different from the headers on the previously provided data on compact disc (CDs)?

What happens if I decide not to continue with an Alcotest search and close my browser?

What if my PC crashes after I purchase records?

Can I setup users on my account?

How do I set-up users on my account?

How does the “Invite New User” functionality work?

Why do I need to set-up users?

Who has access to payment information?

How do I remove a user from my account?

What are the payment options available on this service?

 

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Who to contact for help?

If you are having service-related or payment-related issues, contact the New Jersey e-Government Services Help Desk .

     Phone: 609-586-2600
     Contact Us

If you have questions about the Alcotest Program or data-related questions, contact the NJSP Office of Forensic Science

E-mail: OFSAlcotest@njsp.gov

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Where can I find the Serial Number, File Number and date information required to perform searches?

The Alcohol Influence Report Form (AIR) has the Serial Number, File Number, Arrest Date, Calibration Date and Solution Change Date. Click here to see a sample AIR report.

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What is the cost of Alcotest searches?

A Portal Administration Fee is charged to search the Alcotest database. The fee is $5.00 per 30 records, with a maximum cap of $60.00 (for 331 records or more)..

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What is a Portal Administration Fee?

In order to sustain the Alcotest database eGovernment services, the State has established a system of Portal Administration Fees to maintain and enhance the portal’s ongoing support and expansion.

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What is an Electronic Check?

“Electronic check” is the term used for an internet payment using a checking account. Appropriate bank routing and checking account information must be entered. The account being used must have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the transaction.

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When will I receive the Alcotest records purchased?

Upon successful payment for the transaction you will be presented with a confirmation page that provides links to download purchased records. The link to this page is also included in the confirmation email that is sent upon completion of your order..

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I forgot to download my documents, can I still retrieve them?

Yes. Your documents are available for 14 days from the purchase date. Upon successful completion of the transaction, users will receive a confirmation email that contains links to the documents. You have to log into your account to access the documents.

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In what formats are the Alcotest records available?

The Alcotest records are made available in spreadsheet form as an Excel document and in text form as an ASC document. While the ASC document can be accessed through any Excel compatible software, extra care needs to be taken to maintain data integrity.

To open an ASC file in Excel 2007 or 2010, please follow the instructions detailed here.

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Can the ASC document be accessed using an Excel application?

Yes, you can open the ASC document purchased using Excel; however, care must be taken to maintain data integrity.

To open an ASC file in Excel 2007 or 2010, please follow the instructions detailed here.

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Are there any limitations on the number of times I can access the records purchased?

You have a total combined maximum (Excel and ASC options) of three attempts to open or download the document. It is recommended that you start with saving the document if you need continued access.

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What are the different types of instrument “Certification” records available?

The following instrument “Certification” records may be available:

  • Calibration Record (RECORD_TYPE = 0x21)
  • Control Tests (RECORD_TYPE = 0x22)
  • New Standard Solution Report (RECORD_TYPE = 0x23)
  • Linearity Tests (RECORD_TYPE= 0x58)

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What types of searches can be conducted on the centralized database?

The three searches on Alcotest Inquiry System are:

  1. Search for breath alcohol test results: The search includes the results from Subject tests. A sample Alcotest Subject file in Excel format can be viewed here .

  2. Search for an Alcotest instrument “Certification”: Search includes the results from a specified Alcotest instrument corresponding Calibration Records, Calibration Certificates (Control Tests and Linearity Tests), and Calibrating Unit: New Standard Solution Report results. Sample Alcotest Certification file in Excel format can be viewed here.

  3. Search includes all results of an Alcotest instrument’s activity: Search includes results from Subject tests (Alcohol Influence Report Form), Alcotest instrument Calibration Records, Calibration Certificates (Control Tests and Linearity Tests), and Calibrating Unit: New Standard Solution Reports.

    Note: The ASC download for this search is a ZIP file which includes separate files; that is one for Subject records and one for all the “Certifications”.

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What are the explanations of the data file column headers?

Click here for detailed descriptions of the data file headers.

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Why are the headers for the downloaded certification data different from the headers on the previously provided data on compact disc (CDs)?

In order to support the Centralized Database application's "Activity" search inquiry, where all Certification Tests record types are presented in the same downloaded results spreadsheet, a single all-encompassing header format was applied for easier viewing.

Click here for an example comparing the header format from a Centralized Database download versus CD.

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What happens if I decide not to continue with an Alcotest search and close my browser?

All information will be lost.

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What if my PC crashes after I purchase records?

Upon successful completion of the transaction, users will receive a confirmation email that contains links to the documents. You have to log into your account to access the documents.

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Can I setup users on my account?

Yes, users can be added to the account.

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How do I set-up users on my account?

Account Administrator can initiate the process by sending an invite email to the user through the “Invite New User” link under “Manage Account” menu. The user will click on the link in the email and follow the steps to create the “Business User” account that will be associated to your account.

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How does the “Invite New User” functionality work?

The “Invite New User” provides notification to your employee that you would like to add them to your account. An email will be sent to your employee with a link that will walk them through the steps of setting up a “Business User” account that will be associated with your account. The link can only be used one-time.

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Why do I need to set-up users?

Setting up users will allow them to perform Alcotest searches. If a payment account is set up, the users will not need to enter the business’s payment information for the searches performed.

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Who has access to payment information?

Only the Account Administrator has access to the payment information and can update it.

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How do I remove a user from my account?

You cannot remove a user from your account but you can remove their access to a service. This will prevent them from performing transactions on your behalf using the business’s stored payment. To remove access for a user, go to the “Administer Account Users” link. Select the user and remove all roles.

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What are the payment options available on this service?

You can use either the Credit Card or an Electronic Check to pay for the searches. In Pay-As-You-Go mode, you will need to enter the payment information every time a transaction is performed. If you have a payment account set up and assigned with this service, all the users on this account will be able to perform transactions using the stored payment.