Mandatory Alcohol Screenings start April 1
On April 1, 2024, the Saskatchewan RCMP will be conducting roadside Mandatory Alcohol Screenings (MAS) on all lawful traffic stops in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction on an on-going basis. In 2018, the MAS became part of the Criminal Code Section 320.27(2), being a lawful demand of a breath sample from any driver of a motor vehicle, without the need for reasonable suspicion. Drivers will not be pulled over for the sole purpose of completing a MAS – the MAS will only be requested once a driver is pulled over for other various traffic violations (i.e. speeding, careless driving, brake lights not working, etc.).
Why is the Saskatchewan RCMP conducting Mandatory Alcohol Screenings?
In 2023, Saskatchewan RCMP charged more than 1700 individuals with impaired driving – that is roughly 5 per day – and more than one third of all fatal collisions involved alcohol.
What can I expect if asked to do a Mandatory Alcohol Screening?
The Mandatory Alcohol Screening will be done with an approved screening device called the Alco-Sensor FST and only takes an average of 90 seconds. See video demonstration here: Saskatchewan RCMP begin Mandatory Alcohol Screenings (MAS) on routine traffic stops (youtube.com).
If a driver is over the alcohol legal limit it can result in the following, but is not limited to:
Criminal Code conviction for impaired driving;
Impounded vehicle;
Suspended drivers licence;
Initial $2,250 penalty and;
An immediate drop to -20 demerit points on your licence.
What if I refuse the Mandatory Alcohol Screening?
When a driver indicates they will not provide a breath sample or if they fail to provide a suitable breath sample it is classified as a “failure to, or refusal to comply with demand” – which may result in a Criminal Code conviction under Section 320.15(1), suspended drivers licence, impounded vehicle, a drop to -20 demerit points, and financial penalties.
Hopeful changes for Saskatchewan roadways
“The certainty of a Mandatory Alcohol Screening is to help discourage those consuming alcohol from getting behind the wheel,” shares Superintendent Grant St. Germaine, the Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, “It goes without saying that someone’s ability to mask their impairment should not be the determining factor if someone gets home safely to their family each night.”
The Saskatchewan RCMP hopes to see a decrease in impaired driving charges throughout the province. Choosing to take a safe ride home could save multiple lives and keep Saskatchewan roadways safe.
Please note: the statistics provided in this release are representative of reports received within the Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. They are from the RCMP records management system and are accurate as the day they are collected. Crime statistics are regularly updated due to changes in reporting procedures, changes in ongoing investigations, etc. As a result, the statistics may differ from previous or future published reports.