3.20.04 Ignition Interlock Program

Policy

ATTENTION:
Please refer to COVID-19 Emergency Interim Policies which provides details for temporary exceptions to this policy.

Alberta’s Ignition Interlock Program (IIP) is administered by Alberta Transportation, Driver Fitness and Monitoring (DFM).

The IIP involves the installation of an interlock device in a vehicle as a condition of driver licensing while serving a suspension term. The interlock device measures the breath alcohol concentration levels of the driver and will “lock” the vehicle ignition if a breath alcohol concentration reading is above the specified threshold level.

Alberta’s IIP may allow the individual to obtain conditional driving privileges while serving a suspension term, if an individual has had their driving privileges suspended through:

  • The issuance of a driver’s licence suspension under the Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program of IRS FAIL;
  • The issuance of a driver’s licence suspension under the Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension (AALS) Program;
  • A criminal conviction for impaired driving.

Effective December 1, 2020, Alberta’s IIP has evolved into three different participation streams:

1) The Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program of IRS: FAIL IIP: This program is for drivers who are issued a driver’s licence suspension under IRS: FAIL for criminal-level impaired driving, and where the occurrence date was on or after December 1, 2020; see 3.30.07 Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension (AALS) Program & Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program of IRS: FAIL

2) AALS IIP: This program is for drivers who are issued a driver’s licence suspension under the AALS Program for criminal-level impaired driving, and where the occurrence date was on or before November 30, 2020; see 3.30.07 Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension (AALS) Program & Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program of IRS: FAIL.

3) Mandatory IIP: This participation stream is mandatory for all drivers who have been convicted of impaired driving under the Criminal Code (Canada):

  • This participation stream is mandatory for all drivers who have been convicted of impaired driving under the Criminal Code (Canada) as part of their reinstatement condition codes.
  • Drivers must fully serve their required term in the Mandatory IIP in order for the applicable reinstatement condition code to be completed/removed from the driver’s file and to fully reinstate their driver’s licence.
  • Drivers in this participation stream must demonstrate a sustained ability to separate high-risk behaviours.

Requirements

The driver may apply for Alberta’s IIP when they have 30-days or less remaining in their minimum prohibition/suspension term as indicated on the:

  • Notice of Administrative Penalty, as part of the IRS: FAIL Program.
  • Notice of Suspension, as part of the AALS Program.
  • Order of Driving Prohibition Against an Offender, received in court, for those criminally convicted as part of the Mandatory IIP.

To be eligible, a client must:

  • Ensure all other reinstatement condition codes are met.
  • Be a resident of Alberta to be eligible for an Alberta restricted driver’s licence.
  • Not be currently serving any other suspension(s) other than the impaired driving suspension.
  • Have court authorization to participate in the Mandatory IIP.
    • If criminally convicted and applying to the Mandatory IIP, it is recommended that the driver provides their Order of Driving Prohibition when submitting their application to ensure DFM is applying the correct prohibition term. DFM does not assume liability for any discrepancy in the term.

Procedure

Application

Once the driver has met the above outlined eligibility requirements, the client must:

  • Review the Terms and Conditions outlined in the “IIP Participant Guide” (TRANS3).
  • Purchase an IIP Application form.

The registry agent must:

  • Provide the driver with a copy of the Terms and Conditions outlined in the “IIP Participant Guide” (TRANS3).
  • Review the client demographic information in MOVES to ensure the approval/denial letter for participation in Alberta’s IIP is sent to the correct address.
  • Advise the driver that the application fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the application.
  • Issue the IIP application form.

DFM will notify the driver in writing whether the IIP application form is accepted or denied; this may take up to 45-days to process, and the decision of approval or denial will be mailed to the address listed on their motor vehicle file.

Note:
An IIP application form must be purchased for each new impaired driving occurrence. A new IIP application is not required if a driver is transitioning to a different IIP participation stream arising from the initial impaired driving event (for example: IRS: FAIL IIP to Mandatory IIP).

Approved

Once DFM receives and approves the driver’s application form, DFM will mail the driver an approval letter and their approved IIP application for applications approved before December 1, 2020. On or after December 1, 2020, driver’s that are approved will only receive an approval letter from DFM.

Note:
If the driver loses the approval letter and/or application form from DFM, they may contact Smart Start directly to confirm their approval status and to schedule the interlock device installation.

Upon receiving the IIP approval letter from DFM, the driver must contact Smart Start to schedule the installation of the interlock device. Once the interlock device installation has been completed, the installer will:

  • Complete and sign the IIP application form and provide to the driver;
    Or
  • Generate a Certificate of Installation (Form SS001) for the driver to present to any Alberta registry agent to obtain a restricted driver’s licence within 30 days.

The IIP Application / Certificate of Installation must be fully completed and signed by the installer showing the installation as complete.

Denied

DFM may deny an application form in the interest of public safety. If denied, the rationale used to determine the decision will be indicated in the denial letter and mailed to the address listed on the driver’s motor vehicle file.

Exemptions from IIP

Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act does allow for exemptions when it is not feasible to comply with the requirement.

Feasibility is defined as the physical incapacity or physical incapability to comply with the requirement of an interlock device. However, financial constraints, vehicle inaccessibility, and occupational hardships will not be considered.

For more information on the eligibility criteria, process and required documents to request an exemption from Alberta’s IIP, please visit: www.alberta.ca.

Processing time for exemption requests is six to eight weeks.

Reinstatement Condition Codes

For Reinstatement Condition Codes used in the administration of this program, see QR 3.2 Reinstatement Condition Codes (RC Codes).

Out of Province Clients

If an out of province driver is criminally convicted of impaired driving in Alberta:

  • DFM will forward the criminal conviction, AALS or IRS: FAIL information to the other province/territory.
  • Alberta's Mandatory IIP, AALS IIP and IRS: FAIL IIP rules will not apply; the driver will be subject to the terms and conditions of the other Canadian jurisdiction.

When an out of province reciprocal driver (that is currently participating in a Mandatory IIP in their home jurisdiction) with an interlock device moves to Alberta, the:

  • Registry agent must direct the driver to contact DFM.
    • DFM’s Reciprocity Coordinator will work with the driver to transfer the remaining time of the driver’s IIP term to Alberta by contacting the driver’s home jurisdiction.
  • Driver must apply to participate in Alberta's Mandatory IIP.
    • If currently participating in an IIP in their previous jurisdiction, the driver must arrange for the removal and return of the interlock device to their home jurisdiction.
  • Driver must purchase an Alberta IIP application form.

Note:
When an out of province non-reciprocal driver (that is currently participating in the Mandatory IIP in their home jurisdiction) relocates to Alberta, the registry agent must direct the driver to contact their home jurisdiction to arrange for the removal and return of the interlock device, and  to confirm any outstanding requirements. If the driver does not show as suspended on the CCMTA / IRE Search, the registry agent may proceed to issue an unrestricted Alberta driver’s licence.

All out of province IIP driver-related inquiries must be referred to DFM.

Reviews

Alberta Transportation Registrar Reconsideration Process

Currently, registry agents cannot administer any services related to the Registrar Reconsideration Process. Redirect clients to the Registrar’s Reconsideration Process website at www.alberta.ca for further information.

Restricted Driver’s Licence

To obtain a restricted driver’s licence after the interlock device is installed, the driver must:

  • Provide a fully completed and signed IIP Application form or Certificate of Installation (Form SS001) (whichever is applicable).
    • The Certificate of Installation is only valid for 30 days from validation date. 
  • Provide acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
  • Provide proof that all reinstatement condition codes have been satisfied, with the exception of the IIP related suspension codes: RC 45, 55, 65, 75, 85.
  • Surrender any previous driver’s licence they may be in possession of.
  • Pay all outstanding reinstatement fees or balances, if applicable.

A registry agent must:

  • Ensure the approved IIP Application or Certificate of Installation (whichever is applicable) is signed by the installer.
    • Confirm the Certificate of Installation is dated within the last 30 days.
      • If the participant has not had the ignition interlock device installed, or if the Certificate of Installation has expired, do not issue the restricted driver’s licence and advise the participant to contact Smart Start.
      • Smart Start will either arrange for installation or will generate a new Certificate of Installation with a new validation date.
  • Verify that the participant’s enforcement interlock record indicates a status in the “approved” or “restrict stage.
    • If MOVES reflects a status in the “approved” stage, change from “approved” to “restrict”
  • Verify whether the start date as shown on the participant’s enforcement interlock record is a current, future or a past date:
    • A current date means the participant can be issued a restricted driver’s licence
    • A future start date means the participant cannot be issued a restricted driver's licence until that date is reached or DFM is contacted to review / amend the start date.
    • A past date where the interlock term end date is older than one year means DFM will need to be contacted to update the interlock start / end term otherwise a restricted driver’s licence cannot be issued
  • Validate the Certificate of Installation with the registry agent personnel signature.
  • Issue a restricted driver's licence.
  • Submit the approved IIP application or Certificate of Installation (whichever is applicable) for imaging.

Road Test

Driving Prohibition for One Year

A road test is not required when the Order of Driving Prohibition Against an Offender indicates a prohibition of one year, and they apply for Alberta’s IIP within that year.

Suspension Term or Driving Prohibition Greater than One Year

When the Order of Driving Prohibition Against an Offender indicates a prohibition greater than one year, the driver must complete a road test. The road test does not need to be completed in a vehicle with an interlock device, and the driver does not have to be approved to participate in IIP in order to schedule/complete a road test; however, they must meet all other testing requirements.

Note:
A vision screening and knowledge test are no longer requirements for the IIP unless the driver's licence has been expired, suspended or cancelled for three or more years.

Fees

For IIP application form, Application for Hearing Alberta Ignition Interlock Appeals form, and driver’s licence fees; see the Registry Agent Product Catalogue (pdf).


Date Originally Issued: Nov 14, 1989
Date Last Revised: May 17, 2022