A North Carolina-based firm that specializes in the manufacturing and installation of vehicle breathalyzers is relocating its Wilmington division.

Morrisville-based Monitech is moving its offices into 2,000 square feet of office space at 147 S. College Road. The firm currently houses its Wilmington division at 2725 Old Wrightsboro Road near Wilmington International Airport.

Chuck Lydon, senior vice president and broker with Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners, along with fellow broker Tyler Pegg, completed the recent long-term lease transaction for an undisclosed amount.

Julian Bossong, vice president of Monitech, said the move was necessary to provide a more centralized location for its customer base.

The Wilmington office will serve as a maintenance location to ensure its customers, who are convicted for driving while intoxicated, do not damage the breathalyzer equipment in their vehicles, Bossong said. The site will also install the devices based on court orders.

Bossong said the breathalyzer equipment was part of an overall ignition interlock system.

As part of state law, a convicted DWI suspect can be ordered to install the device as a way to measure blood alcohol content. If the breath sample isn't provided or the sample exceeds the ignition interlock’s preset blood alcohol level, the device will log the event, warn the driver and then start up an alarm until the ignition is turned off or a clean breath sample has been provided.