Community Peace Officers began using Mandatory Alcohol Screening as a tool to reduce impaired driving in March 2025. If you get pulled over by a Community Peace Officer for a traffic violation, you will need to provide a breath sample. This is not an accusation: it is about detecting and stopping impaired driving for everyone’s safety.

 

If you get pulled over

Except for check stops, a Peace Officer will not pull you over just to request a breath sample. You will be pulled over for traffic violations such as:

• speeding
• careless driving
• brake lights not working, etc.

If the Peace Officer who stopped you has an approved alcohol screening device the officer must ask you for a breath sample. This is in line with other law enforcement agencies such as the RCMP and Alberta Sheriffs. You should not feel embarrassed: Mandatory Alcohol Screening is a preventive measure, not an accusation.

If you refuse to provide a sample or your blood alcohol concentration is found to be over the accepted limits, the Peace Officer will issue Immediate Roadside Sanctions. 

Immediate Roadside Sanctions

Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) are penalties issued according to occurrence. The penalties include driver's license suspension, fines, mandatory training and vehicle seizures. Find the list of penalties by occurrence on the Government of Alberta website. 

If you are issued an IRS by a Peace Officer, you will receive a Notice of Administrative Penalty, which describes the length of time your car will be seized for, the length of time your license will be suspended for and the fine amount. If you are issued an IRS by an RCMP Officer, you may also receive charges under the Criminal Code of Canada. 

Reimbursement

As per Section 8 of the Saferoads Alberta Regulation when a cancellation occurs there may be a request for reimbursement of incurred seizure costs.

If the IRS is issued by a Strathcona County Community Peace Officer, requests for reimbursement must be made to a supervisor of Enforcement Services and submitted by the claimant involved in the offence. These requests can be made by calling Enforcement Services at 780-467-7741 and requesting to speak to a Supervisor to receive further instruction.

When making the request, you will be required to complete the  Enforcement Reimbursement Application (4.5 MB) with the following information:

• Contravention # (from the Notice of Administrative Penalty or Seizure Form);
• Occurrence Date;
• Summary of Incident; and
• Claimant Contact Information.

Supervisors will review the request and the information pertaining to the offence. When the review is complete the supervisor will advise the claimant of the decision on reimbursement and the process for payment.

If the IRS is issued by a member of the RCMP, please send an email to RCMP_IRS_Reversals@rcmp-grc.gc.ca with the following information: 

• Contravention # (from the Notice of Administrative Penalty or Seizure Form);
• Occurrence Date;
• Summary of Incident; and
• Claimant Contact Information.

Plan ahead: don't drink and drive

Help keep Strathcona County's roads safe. Don't drink and drive. 

Everyone can do their part to prevent impaired driving. If you drink alcohol, you have options:

• Arrange for a safe ride home
• Take a taxi or rideshare service
• Use a designated driver
• or stay the night.

To learn more about the risks of drinking and driving, visit madd.ca.

Legislation

In December 2018, the federal government authorized law enforcement to obtain an immediate roadside breath sample from any driver, without needing suspicion or cause. This clause is called Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS). You can read the legislation under Section 320.27(2) of the Criminal Code. 

About the Immediate Roadside Sanctions pilot

As part of a pilot initiative, Strathcona County Enforcement Services Peace Officers will be utilizing Mandatory Alcohol Screening, a tool used by various law enforcement agencies since 2018. With this new authority, Peace Officers will also be able to issue the Immediate Roadside Sanctions that apply under the Traffic Safety Act. 
 

The CPO Enhanced Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Pilot will last one year, with a mid-point evaluation in September 2025.