Policy

A restriction of motor vehicle services will be applied against a client’s file in order to assist in the collection of outstanding account balances owed to government departments.

A client’s file maybe restricted for the following reasons:

• Outstanding motor vehicle account balances.
• Overdue fines, including moving violations, non-moving violations and Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) penalties.
• Criminal Code and federal statutes fines.
• Arrears with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, Maintenance Enforcement Program.
• Carrier Service manual restriction added by Alberta Transportation, Carrier Services.

The Restricted Service Menu on MOVES will identify what motor vehicle services are available for each restriction level.  Examples of services available may include:

• Payment on account.
• SafeRoad/APIS Payments.
• Cancellation of driver’s licence and/or vehicle registration.
• Driver’s abstract.
• Vehicle Information Report.
• Suspension Verification Form.
• Change of name or address (no new documents will be printed).

Note:
Never create a joint MVID when one of the clients in the joint file is a restricted client.

When the client only requires an Identification (ID) card or a parking placard, the registry agent must call the appropriate area to have the restriction lifted; see 3.20.01 Identification (ID) Card,or  4.45.03 Parking Placards and Disabled Plates (3-dsbl).

Levels of Restriction

Level 1 - Maintenance Enforcement Restriction (MERST)

• Maintenance Enforcement enters restrictions as alerts that state “Client can obtain photo identification, driver’s abstracts, parking placards, and access SafeRoads Alberta services only. All other motor vehicle services are restricted by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. For more information call 780-422-5555 or 310-0000-422-5555, Monday to Friday, 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM.”
• Agents must ensure services are provided in accordance with this alert, as clients are only eligible for the services the alert lists.
• Client must contact Alberta Justice and Solicitor General to make payment arrangements to have the alert removed.

Level 3 - Service Alberta Manual Restriction (MNRST)

• This manual restriction is added by the following internal departments:
  • Financial Reporting and Policy Unit.
  • Motor Vehicles and Registries Administration.
  • Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Level 5 - Carrier Service Manual Restriction of Service (CSRST)

• Carrier Service manual restriction is added by Alberta Transportation, Carrier & Vehicle Safety Restrictions.
• Client must contact Alberta Transportation, Carrier & Vehicle Safety Restrictions to have the restriction of service removed.

Level 7 Motor Vehicle Accident Claims (MVAC)

• Restriction of service is added when Alberta Justice and Solicitor General Motor Vehicle Accident Claims fees are updated on MOVES.
  • If the restriction is related to outstanding Abandoned & Seized Vehicles fees, and the client wishes to dispute the fees, the registry agent must advise the client to contact Alberta Justice and Solicitor General Abandoned & Seized Vehicles before the restriction can be lifted. The fees must not be paid to allow the completion of the requested service.

Level 7 - Overdue Fines (Moving Violations & IRS Penalties) (FINF)

• Restriction of service is added when Alberta Justice and Solicitor General moving violation fine(s)and SafeRoads IRS penalties are updated on MOVES.

Level 9 - Overdue Fines (Non-Moving Violations including Criminal Code and Federal Statutes Fines) (FINP)

• Restriction of service is added when Alberta Justice and Solicitor General non-moving violation fine(s) are updated on MOVES.

Payments

A registry agent must accept and process payments for outstanding account balances; see 1.10.04 Payment Processing for acceptable forms of payment.

Imaging

All supporting documents must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.

Date Originally Issued: Nov 14, 1989
Date Last Revised: Apr 11, 2022