Immediate Roadside Sanctions ZERO: Commercial Program

Overview

The Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) IRS ZERO: Commercial Program applies to any driver who is:

operating a commercial vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that has a registered gross vehicle weight of more than 11,794 kg, or
a commercial vehicle that has a manufacturer’s seating capacity designed for 11 or more passengers, including the driver

These drivers must have a zero (0.00) blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or blood drug concentration (BDC) when driving a commercial vehicle.

For more information, see the IRS ZERO: Commercial information sheet.

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

Sanctions

Repeat alcohol driving occurrences based on a lookback period of 10-years show a pattern of high-risk driving behaviour and therefore the penalties increase with each prior occurrence. The 10-year period includes occurrences under the IRS ZERO: Commercial program on or after December 1, 2020.

First occurrence in a 10-year period

You will receive:

an immediate 3-day driver’s licence suspension where you are unable to drive under any circumstances
a $300 fine plus victim surcharge of 20%

Second occurrence in a 10-year period

You will receive:

an immediate 15-day driver’s licence suspension where you are unable to drive under any circumstances
a $600 fine plus victim surcharge of 20%

Third and subsequent occurrence within a 10-year period

You will receive:

an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension where you are unable to drive under any circumstances
a $1,200 fine plus victim surcharge of 20%

If a commercial driver is issued an IRS WARN or IRS FAIL, the vehicle will be seized, the cargo (if applicable) will be released to the carrier.

Immediate roadside appeal

At the time of occurrence, 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 at roadside.

Review

Through SafeRoads Alberta you can request a review of your:

Fine payment

Starting on January 1, 2021, Alberta’s victim fine surcharge will be included in the total amount of your Notice of Administrative Penalty fine. A victim surcharge is a fine imposed on a person convicted of an offence or who commits a contravention under provincial laws. These funds are used to provide programs, services and assistance to victims of crime and to fund public safety initiatives to deter crime and reduce victimization.

Through SafeRoads Alberta you can: