Impaired Driving
In Edmonton
Impaired Driving Charges In Edmonton
An impaired driving charge is one of the most serious situations a driver can face in Alberta. Unlike most traffic violations, impaired driving can result in criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada in addition to provincial consequences under the Traffic Safety Act. A conviction can mean a permanent criminal record, a lengthy licence suspension, significant fines, and consequences that follow you for the rest of your life. Got a Ticket? Fight It! has represented drivers facing impaired driving charges across Edmonton and Alberta, and we know that having the right team in your corner from the very beginning makes a significant difference to the outcome.
If you have been charged with impaired driving, do not wait. The decisions you make early in the process can significantly affect the outcome of your case.
What Are the Penalties for Impaired Driving?
Penalties for impaired driving in Alberta depend on the number of prior offences and the circumstances of the incident.
First offence:
- Minimum $1,000 fine.
- Mandatory minimum one-year driving prohibition.
- Possible imprisonment.
- Mandatory participation in a back-on-track education or treatment program.
- Ignition interlock requirement before licence reinstatement.
Second offence:
- Minimum 30 days imprisonment.
- Minimum two-year driving prohibition.
- Ignition interlock requirement.
Third or subsequent offence:
- Minimum 120 days imprisonment.
- Minimum three-year driving prohibition.
- Permanent criminal record.
A criminal record for impaired driving can affect your employment, your ability to travel to other countries, including the United States, professional licences, and any position that requires a clean background check. For commercial drivers, a conviction can end a career outright. These are not abstract consequences. They are outcomes that follow drivers for decades.
Violation Areas
Explore common traffic violations we can help you dispute and protect your driving record.
What Should You Know?
What Is Impaired Driving?
You can be convicted of impaired driving if the court finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt that you were impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. Impairment does not require a specific blood alcohol level. However, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher is itself a separate criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Alberta also has administrative penalties for drivers in the warn range (0.05 to 0.079 BAC) through the Immediate Roadside Sanctions program. These are separate from criminal charges but carry their own serious consequences, including immediate licence suspensions and fines. It is possible to face both administrative sanctions and criminal charges arising from the same incident, which is why understanding the full picture from the start is so important.
Drug impairment is treated with the same seriousness as alcohol impairment under Canadian law. A driver does not need to be over any specific measurement to be convicted. If the court finds that your ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by any drug, including prescription medication, a conviction is possible.
How We Can Help
Impaired driving cases involve both criminal law and provincial administrative processes, and the two run simultaneously. Our team has experience navigating both. We review the circumstances of the traffic stop, the testing procedures used at the roadside, the calibration and handling of any approved screening devices, the officer’s observations, and any procedural issues that may support a defence.
Approved screening devices must be operated correctly and maintained in accordance with strict standards. Errors in the testing process, improper handling of the device, or procedural missteps by the officer can all be examined as part of building your defence. These details are often the difference between a conviction and a withdrawal.
If your case also involves a roadside suspension through the Immediate Roadside Sanctions program, we can assist with the review process. If a Driver Control Board hearing is part of your situation, we represent you there as well. If related charges, such as dangerous driving or driving under suspension, have also been laid, we handle everything together.
Expert Traffic Paralegal Team
We’re Here to Help!
- Founded by a former RCMP officer with deep knowledge of the court system.
- Over 27 years of experience defending Alberta drivers.
- Licensed paralegals focused exclusively on traffic ticket defence.
- Free consultations with no obligation.
- In most cases, you will not need to appear in court at all.
- Affordable representation for the full range of Traffic Safety Act violations and Rules of the Road infractions.
- Precedent-setting case experience that benefits every client we take on.
- Serving Edmonton and communities across Alberta.
Before you pay, talk to us. A free consultation with our team takes just a few minutes and could save you far more than the fine. There is no obligation and no pressure. Just honest advice about your options from a team that has been fighting for Alberta drivers for over 27 years.
