Impaired Driving
When motorists follow safe driving practices, such as planning ahead and appointing a designated driver, the risks of death and injury, to themselves and others are reduced. The RCMP asks you to report impaired drivers on the road by pulling over and calling 911. Help prevent collisions and deaths that result from impaired driving.
Impaired driving investigations are technically complex and can involve drugs and/or alcohol. The RCMP and other police agencies across Canada conduct enforcement of drug impaired driving using Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). Learn more about the DRE program here.
Facts
- Impaired driving and refusing to provide a breath sample are criminal offences.
- Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol and refusing to comply with a demand for physical sobriety tests or to provide bodily fluid samples is a criminal offence.
- Drivers who are charged in Alberta with a blood alcohol level between .05 and .08 will face immediate licence suspension and immediate roadside vehicle seizure, but will not be subject to Criminal Code prosecutions.
- You do not have to be over .08 to be charged with impaired driving, other factors may be taken into consideration.
- Police may disqualify you from driving for 24 hours if they believe your ability to drive is impaired.
- If your licence is suspended immediately during a roadside event, the suspension will continue until any criminal charges are resolved.
- A driver convicted of impaired driving causing injury or death receives a mandatory five year licence suspension and possibly jail time.
- Both drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired drivers will be treated equally, with equal severity.
- For more information, see Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension Program.
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