Changes to impaired driving laws

Alberta’s impaired driving laws are changing effective December 1, 2020. A new Roadside Sanction program will keep our roads safer by providing serious and immediate consequences for all impaired drivers. Read Freeing up police and courts to make Alberta safer for more information.

Additional resources:

Overview

The Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension Program (AALSP) applies to drivers who:

  • are over the federal legal limits for alcohol, cannabis or cannabis/alcohol combination with:
    • a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 (or 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood) or more
    • a blood drug concentration (BDC) of 5 nanograms or more of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per millilitre of blood
    • a combination of a BAC of 0.05 (50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood) and a BDC of 2.5 nanograms or more of THC per one millilitre of blood, or
  • are over any detectable level of LSD, psilocybin, psilocin, ketamine, PCP, cocaine, methamphetamine, 6-mam, or
  • are over 5 mg/L of GHG, or
  • are reasonably believed to be impaired by drugs or alcohol or a combination of drugs and alcohol, or
  • fail or refuse to provide requested breath or fluid sample(s)

For more information, see the Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension Program Information Sheet.

In addition to the provincial sanctions below, drivers will also be subject to any criminal charges and federal penalties imposed by the court.

Regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceedings, the AALS will remain in effect and drivers will be suspended for the full 90 days and one-year suspension term. The burden of proof for criminal charges is much higher than administrative sanctions, and as you were deemed unsafe at the time of the event by law enforcement, the administrative suspension will still stand.

Sanctions

First time within a 10-year period

You will receive:

  • an immediate 90-day licence suspension
  • a one-year driving suspension where you are permitted to drive if you participate in the Ignition Interlock Program

If you choose not to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program, you will remain suspended from driving for one year in addition to the 90-day suspension.

  • a 3-day vehicle seizure

If criminally convicted, you will also be required to participate in:

  • a one-year Mandatory Ignition Interlock Program ordered by the court
  • Planning Ahead course

Second time within a 10-year period

You will receive:

  • an immediate 90-day licence suspension
  • a one-year driving suspension where you are permitted to drive if you participate in the Ignition Interlock Program

If you choose not to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program, you will remain suspended from driving for one year in addition to the 90-day suspension.

  • a 7-day vehicle seizure

If criminally convicted, you will also be required to participate in:

  • a 3-year Mandatory Ignition Interlock Program ordered by the court
  • IMPACT program

Third and subsequent times within a 10-year period

You will receive:

  • an immediate 90-day licence suspension
  • a one-year driving suspension where you are permitted to drive if you participate in the  Ignition Interlock Program

If you choose not to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program, you will remain suspended from driving for one year in addition to the 90-day suspension.

  • a 7-day vehicle seizure

If criminally convicted, you will also be required to participate in:

  • a 5-year Mandatory Ignition Interlock Program ordered by the court
  • IMPACT program

Appeals

Immediate roadside appeal

You can request a second breath test on a different instrument for alcohol to confirm your BAC, or a blood test for drugs to confirm your BDC.

Appeals to the Alberta Transportation Safety Board

Through the Alberta Transportation Safety Board you can:

For information on appeals, contact:

Alberta Transportation Safety Board
Hours: 8:15 am to 12:00 pm, and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

Fine payment

To pay a fine, go to the Online fine payment page.

Contact

Connect with Driver Fitness and Monitoring:

Driver fitness monitoring contact form

Phone: 780-427-8230
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

Hours: 8:15 am to 12:00 pm, and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)