Policy

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

Effective December 1, 2020, the Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) Program was replaced by the IRS: WARN Program.  A suspension under the previous IRS Program will no longer be issued to drivers for occurrences on or after December 1, 2020.

Under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA), a driver who has a blood-alcohol level between .05 and .079 milligrams (mg) per 100 mL of blood will be issued an immediate suspension under the IRS: WARN Program, for occurrences on or after December 1, 2020.

Clients are notified that the reinstatement requirements for the IRS: WARN suspension must be completed within six months from the date of issue of the IRS: WARN. The following are the notifications they are provided:

• The Confirmation of Suspension letter advises the client what reinstatement conditions are required and that these conditions must be completed within six months from the date of issue of the IRS: WARN or a further indefinite administrative suspension for non-compliance will be issued.
• Drivers who have not yet complied with the reinstatement conditions after the suspension reinstatement date are sent a reminder advising of the requirements and advised of a further suspension should they not comply.
  • Drivers with a 15 day IRS: WARN Suspension will be mailed a reminder 20 days from the issue date of the suspension.
  • Drivers with a 30 day IRS: WARN Suspension will be mailed a reminder 35 days from the issue date of the suspension.

If the client complies prior to the start date of the administrative suspension, the administrative suspension for non-compliance will be removed.

Suspension and Vehicle Seizure Terms

The IRS: WARN Program automatically imposes sanctions that are not linked to criminal charges. These sanctions begin immediately and include:

IRS: WARN Program - Occurrences	Immediate driver’s licence suspension/disqualification	Vehicle seizure	Remedial Education	Fines
First occurrence	Three-day driver’s licence suspension	Three-day	N/A	$300 fine plus victim fine surcharge
Second occurrence	15-day driver’s licence suspension	Seven-day	Crossroads Course (however, Planning Ahead may be accepted in lieu)	$600 fine plus victim fine surcharge
Third and subsequent occurrence(s)	30-day driver’s licence suspension	Seven-day	IMPACT Program	$1,200 fine plus victim fine surcharge

Review Process

An IRS: WARN suspension/disqualification can be reviewed by SafeRoads Alberta. See 3.30.11 SafeRoads Alberta Review Application and other SafeRoads Alberta Services.

Reinstatement Condition Codes (RC) Codes

For RC codes that may be added to the client’s file; see QR 3.2 Reinstatement Condition Codes (RC Codes) (pdf).

Note:
The client must comply with the reinstatement requirements within six months of the offence date or a further indefinite suspension will automatically be issued to the driver.

Fees

For reinstatement fees, see the Registry Agent Product Catalogue (pdf).

Date Originally Issued: Aug 31, 2012
Date Last Revised: Jul 07, 2021