In British Columbia, legislation is in place that allows the police to seize your licence and your vehicle from the side of the road if you fail an alcohol breath test on an Approved Screening Device.

IRP legislation allows the police to:

• Prohibit you from driving for 90 days
• Impound your vehicle for 30 days
• Refer you to BC’s Ignition Interlock and Responsible Driver Programs
• Charge you a fine of $500 and a licence reinstatement fee of $250.

The total cost to you for the return of your vehicle and licence after the 90-day suspension period could total approximately $4,200.

Contact Josh Krueger to get the legal assistance you need in the Abbotsford area.

Responsible Driver Program

When you receive an automatic roadside prohibition, IRP legislation assumes that you are an alcoholic. Before the government will return your licence to you, they require your participation in the Responsible Driver Program, which is BC’s remedial program for those who are criminally convicted on impaired driving charges as well as those who receive an IRP.

This program consists of an assessment followed by 8 hours of education or 16 hours of counselling, at your expense. The Responsible Driver Program costs $880.

Ignition Interlock Program

In the Ignition Interlock Program, you will have to install an ignition interlock device on all vehicles that you drive. The Interlock device then requires the driver to provide a breath sample before starting the vehicle and will not allow the vehicle to start if it detects alcohol. The device also requires periodic samples once the vehicle is running to ensure that the driver remains alcohol-free.

A company called Guardian Interlock runs the Ignition Interlock Program. Guardian Interlock installs and monitors the devices at the cost of the Program participants. The Ignition Interlock Program costs approximately $1,700 for one year, which includes installation costs and monthly monitoring fees.