Impaired Driving & Roadside Sanctions
Defence for Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) and Impaired Driving in Calgary and surrounding area.
If you’ve been stopped or issued an IRS, time matters
Impaired driving situations move quickly in Alberta—especially when an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) is issued. SafeRoads Alberta handles reviews for these provincial administrative penalties and issues decisions within a set timeframe.
If you’ve received a Notice of Administrative Penalty (NAP) or are facing impaired driving allegations, getting advice early can help you avoid missteps and protect your options.
What is an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS)?
An IRS is a provincial administrative penalty that can be issued at the roadside in impaired driving situations. The process is handled through SafeRoads Alberta.
You may be eligible to request a review to dispute an IRS Notice of Administrative Penalty through SafeRoads.
Criminal impaired driving vs. IRS
Some impaired driving matters can involve Criminal Code charges, while others proceed as administrative penalties. The right approach depends on what you received and the facts of the stop.
During a consultation, we’ll confirm:
- what was issued (administrative penalty vs. criminal charge)
- what deadlines apply
- what evidence/disclosure is available
- the best next steps based on your situation
Key deadline and cost to request a SafeRoads review
If you plan to dispute an IRS Notice of Administrative Penalty:
- You must submit the review request within 7 days of the date the IRS Notice was issued.
- There is a non-refundable review fee of $150.
- Requests are made through the SafeRoads portal or a participating Alberta registry agent.
If you miss the 7-day window, your options can narrow quickly—so it’s worth getting advice immediately.
What to do after a stop or IRS notice
A few practical steps can help protect your position:
- Don’t guess about deadlines—confirm the date/time on your notice and act quickly.
- Keep your paperwork (notice, contravention number, any conditions or seizure documents).
- Write down what happened while it’s fresh (times, location, what was said/done, witnesses).
- Get advice before taking major steps (for example, choosing review options or responding to allegations).
How I can help
Depending on whether you’re dealing with an IRS review, a criminal matter, or both, help may include:
- Reviewing the notice and identifying deadlines and procedural requirements
- Advising on the SafeRoads review process and preparing submissions
- Reviewing disclosure and evidence (where applicable)
- Helping you understand likely outcomes and risks
- Building a plan tailored to your goals (minimizing long-term impact where possible)