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How and when impaired driving suspensions will appear on your Alberta driver’s abstract.
An Alberta driver's abstract displays a driver's history within a specified time period, which is based on:
While driver’s licence suspensions, criminal convictions and traffic ticket contraventions are not removed from the Alberta driving record, they stop appearing on the driver’s abstract after 3, 5, or 10 years based on the length of time the driver’s abstract is requested for.
With the introduction of the Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program on December 1, 2020, the driver’s abstract will be updated to reflect the former impaired driving programs as well as those under the IRS Program.
See Get a driver abstract for details on how to obtain a driver’s abstract.
AALS Program occurrences from April 9, 2018 up to and including November 30, 2020 will appear on a standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the AALS ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
IRS: FAIL occurrences on or after December 1, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the IRS FAIL ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
Once a driver is issued an IRS: FAIL by law enforcement, this will reflect on the Alberta driver’s abstract under its own unique Case Number.
If criminal charges were also issued from an IRS: FAIL driving event, and the driver is found guilty of the criminal charges, the driver’s abstract will reflect:
Any criminal conviction and associated federal driving prohibition will appear on the Alberta driver’s abstract with its own unique Case Number, separate from the IRS: FAIL Case Number.
However, these are treated as 1 driving event, and not 4 separate driving events regardless that the Case Numbers appear differently.
It is strongly recommended that an insurance company should not surcharge twice when a criminal conviction arises from the same driving event as the IRS: FAIL.
You can connect these driving events together by the occurrence / suspension start date appearing on the driver’s abstract. If further confirmation is required to connect the driving events, such as for an insurance company, you can supply both the:
Notice of Administrative Penalty issued by law enforcement at the time of the IRS: FAIL, and
Order of Driving Prohibition against an Offender issued by the courts
These documents will reflect the same occurrence / suspension start date.
Replacement copies of these documents may be directly obtained by the issuing law enforcement agency or courts.
If an individual is participating/has participated in the following programs the driver's abstract will reflect the term where the restricted driver's licence was issued:
Often times, employers rely on this information to confirm a driver may legally drive while serving their impaired driving suspension(s).
Immediate Roadside Suspension Program occurrences on or before November 30, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the Immediate Roadside Suspension ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
IRS: WARN occurrences on or after December 1, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the IRS: WARN ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
Drivers licensed under the Graduated Driver’s Licence Program must have a zero blood alcohol/drug level when driving.
AZADT Program occurrences up to and including November 30, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the AZADT ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
IRS ZERO: Novice occurrences on or after December 1, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the IRS ZERO: Novice ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
Drivers operating a commercial vehicle must have a zero blood alcohol/drug level when driving
IRS ZERO: Commercial occurrences on or after December 1, 2020 will appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once the IRS ZERO: Commercial ends, it will continue to appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
24-Hour Suspension occurrences on or before November 30, 2020 do not appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
IRS: 24 Hour ccurrences on or after December 1, 2020 do not appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
These suspensions appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract while active.
Once it ends, they will not appear on a purchased standard driver’s abstract and a commercial driver’s abstract.
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 pm, and 1 pm to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
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