Immediate Roadside Sanctions Lawyers in Calgary

You only have 7 days to launch a review of your license suspension.

If you are facing an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) penalty, you need a criminal defence lawyer in Calgary to look at your file as soon as possible. An IRS can carry serious penalties including expensive fines, and loss of driving privileges.

Strategic Criminal Defence is a top Google-rated criminal defence firm in Calgary, with over 500 5-star reviews. Our firm, and our experienced legal team, have defended clients in over 10,000 criminal cases; a significant number of which are impaired driving, DUI, and IRS offences.

Leveraging our extensive knowledge of Alberta’s driving laws and decades of experience, we craft strategies to help those accused of drunk driving beat the charge.

The lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence are both highly experienced and dedicated to defending your rights and future in the face of these penalties. Contact a Calgary criminal defence lawyer today by calling (403) 719-6410.

An Experienced Defence Team

Strategic Criminal Defence was founded by respected senior criminal lawyer Michael Oykhman. For over 15 years, Michael has defended thousands of clients and appeared at all levels of court in Alberta, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Our lawyers are guided by core values of service, results, integrity, teamwork, drive, and strategy. We share our collective experience, resources, and passion to help people and look for opportunities to add value to our clients through strategic thinking and creative solutions.

Our Recent Successful Cases

Case Number: 55342520

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood and impaired operation of a vehicle. The allegations arose after the client’s vehicle was found in a ditch near Banff National Park. Despite two separate breath tests indicating “Fail,” we identified critical deficiencies in the records provided, specifically related to the calibration of the devices used.

The investigation revealed that the approved screening devices (ASDs) used for both the initial test and the voluntary roadside appeal showed calibration dates listing a date nearly one year into the future. This glaring inconsistency raised doubts about the reliability of the devices. Although the issuing officer claimed this was a typographical error and the devices were calibrated in 2024, there was no corroborating evidence from the calibrator or records verifying the actual date. This oversight undermined the reliability of the results and the fairness of the administrative sanction.

At the review hearing, Michael Oykhman (Counsel) and M. Selders (Co-Counsel) argued that the absence of accurate calibration records violated procedural requirements under Section 2 of the SafeRoads Alberta Regulation and Section 12 of the Provincial Administrative Penalties Act. The adjudicator agreed, finding that the lack of reliable calibration information rendered the NAP invalid. The adjudicator determined that the client had established sufficient grounds to cancel the sanctions.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 9245473

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by cannabis. The sanction was issued following a traffic stop on Highway 1A near Cochrane, Alberta, during which the officer claimed the client displayed signs of impairment and admitted to recent cannabis consumption. Despite these allegations, we identified key flaws in the investigation and the evidence used to support the sanction.

During the stop, the officer noted the smell of burnt cannabis, observed red and bloodshot eyes, and cited the client’s admission of recent consumption. However, the client provided a breath sample on an approved screening device (ASD) that showed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of “0.” Despite the officer identifying himself as a “senior drug recognition expert” (DRE), no further testing, such as a DRE evaluation or a standard field sobriety test (SFST), was conducted to substantiate the officer’s claims of impairment by drugs.

At the review hearing, Ian Savage (Counsel) effectively demonstrated that the officer’s observations were insufficient to establish impairment under Section 4(e)(iv) of the SafeRoads Alberta Regulation. The officer’s reliance on subjective observations, without corroborating evidence from approved drug screening or further testing, failed to meet the required standard to uphold the sanction. Additionally, the client provided a credible and detailed explanation of her cannabis use and driving behaviour, which further undermined the officer’s claims.

The adjudicator concluded that the evidence did not establish impairment at the time of operation on a balance of probabilities. The Notice of Administrative Penalty (NAP) was therefore cancelled.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 9255461

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The sanction was issued following a complaint about the client being found unconscious in a vehicle that had backed into another car. Despite allegations of impairment and a subsequent drug recognition evaluation (DRE), we successfully demonstrated that critical procedural errors invalidated the sanction.

The investigation began with the client being arrested for impaired driving and hit-and-run. While the officer conducted various assessments, including an ASD test that returned a reading of “0” for alcohol and a DRE evaluation, the client was not provided a Notice of Administrative Penalty (NAP) or any written advice about their right to a voluntary roadside appeal until after the tests were completed. This failure to issue the NAP at the appropriate time directly violated the procedural requirements outlined in the Traffic Safety Act and relevant case law, including Lausen v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads) and Lawrence v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads).

At the review hearing, Laura Bobyn (Counsel) effectively argued that the officer’s failure to issue the NAP prior to the roadside appeal deprived the client of the opportunity to make an informed decision about the voluntary appeal. The adjudicator agreed, noting that the timing and delivery of the NAP were inconsistent with legal requirements. This procedural deficiency undermined the fairness of the process, leading to the cancellation of the sanction.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 55542511

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol following a traffic collision. The peace officer issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty (NAP) and presented the client with a verbal explanation of a roadside appeal. However, no written advice about the voluntary nature of the appeal or its implications was provided before the appeal was declined.

The incident began when law enforcement stopped the client after observing them leaving the scene of a collision. The client was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in the back of a police vehicle. Despite the officer mentioning the appeal, the absence of written documentation and clear communication led the client to mistakenly believe that declining the appeal would result in worse consequences, such as criminal charges.

At the review hearing, we highlighted procedural deficiencies in the officer’s conduct. We argued that the failure to provide written advice regarding the voluntary nature of the appeal violated procedural safeguards under Section 88.11 of the Traffic Safety Act. Drawing on key precedents, including Lausen v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads) and Lawrence v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads), we demonstrated that these deficiencies deprived the client of their right to meaningful access to a roadside appeal.

The adjudicator agreed that the officer’s omissions rendered the process unfair. The NAP was canceled, and no suspension or further penalties were imposed.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 55342516

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, following a traffic stop in Calgary, Alberta. This was a second occurrence, significantly raising the potential penalties and risks involved. Despite the breathalyzer results indicating a “Fail” after two separate tests, critical procedural deficiencies were identified in the investigation and explanation of the client’s rights.

The traffic stop arose from a complaint of impaired driving. After the initial “Fail” reading on the approved screening device (ASD), the peace officer arrested the client and referenced prior sanctions. The officer informed the client of the option for a roadside appeal but failed to provide timely written advice or documentation about its voluntary nature and purpose. The appeal form was presented in a rushed and unclear manner, leaving the client unaware of their rights or the distinction between criminal and administrative consequences.

During the review hearing, we emphasized the officer’s failure to meet procedural requirements under Section 88.11 of the Traffic Safety Act, particularly the lack of timely and adequate written advice about the roadside appeal. We argued that this oversight, combined with the client’s prior experience and heightened anxiety, resulted in significant unfairness. Relying on legal precedents such as Lausen v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads) and Lawrence v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads), we demonstrated that these procedural flaws denied the client meaningful access to safeguards against administrative sanctions.

The adjudicator agreed and canceled the NAP.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 55542513

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. The incident occurred after police responded to a complaint about a driver found unconscious behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. Despite allegations of impairment, we identified procedural deficiencies in how the investigation and sanctions were conducted.

Law enforcement claimed that our client exhibited classic signs of impairment, including the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, and unsteady movement. The client was arrested, read their Charter rights, and placed in the back of a police vehicle. However, the investigating officer failed to provide written documentation or a clear explanation of the client’s rights to a voluntary roadside appeal. The roadside appeal was allegedly offered verbally, but no detailed information was provided about its purpose, voluntary nature, or potential impact. Instead, the client was handed documentation only after being transported home, long after the opportunity to elect a roadside appeal had passed.

At the review hearing, Michael Oykhman (Counsel) and M. Gill (Co-Counsel) demonstrated that the investigating officer’s actions violated procedural safeguards outlined in Section 88.11 of the Traffic Safety Act. Drawing on precedents such as Lausen v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads) and Lawrence v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads), they argued that the officer’s failure to provide timely written advice undermined our client’s ability to make an informed decision. The adjudicator agreed, finding that the lack of proper communication and documentation rendered the process unfair and procedurally flawed.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

IRS-CTA

What is an Immediate Roadside Sanction?

immediate-roadside-sanction-irs-lawyers-calgaryAn Immediate Roadside Sanction, commonly referred to as an IRS, entails a driver having their licence suspended for a set period of time due to an allegation of drug or alcohol-related impaired driving. These sanctions are administered under the Immediate Roadside Suspension Program that came into effect across Alberta on December 1, 2020, replacing the Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension program. The length and type of suspension will depend on the type of licence you have and the results of the police roadside screening. All suspensions are legislated in the Traffic Safety Act, which outlines the various procedures, beginning at section 88(1).

The wording of the legislation is long, complicated, and difficult to read and interpret. In short, pursuant to the Traffic Safety Act, there are 5 different types of sanctions:

  1. IRS: 24-Hour
  2. IRS: Novice
  3. IRS: Commercial
  4. IRS: Warn
  5. IRS: Fail

You may also receive a criminal DUI charge alongside the IRS. Further, the imposition of criminal charges may depend on the following factors:

  1. You have had a prior DUI,
  2. There is bodily harm or injury, or
  3. There were children in the vehicle.

Your IRS and any criminal proceedings you may be facing are completely separate and distinct matters. Decisions made by criminal courts with respect to the related criminal charges have absolutely no bearing on your provincial licence suspension. Regardless of the outcome of your criminal charges in criminal court, your IRS will remain in effect unless you review/appeal the IRS suspension.

IRS SafeRoads challenges are handled virtually across Alberta. This allows us to conduct defences from our centralized offices in Calgary or Edmonton. You do not need a lawyer in your jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

All reviews can now be done completely virtually. The benefit to you is that:

  1. You never have to worry about traveling to see us in person; and
  2. You never have to worry about extra-legal travel fees to argue the IRS case;

Our lawyers can help you file a review and fight a suspension anywhere in Alberta, from one of our central offices in either Calgary or Edmonton.

If you have had your licence suspended, it is critical that you hire a competent IRS defence lawyer as quickly as possible. Do not miss out on the opportunity to apply for a review and get back your driving privileges.

What are the different types of IRS suspensions?

Your driving privileges will be affected differently depending on which licence suspension you are given.

  1. IRS: 24-Hour: This sanction is imposed when a peace officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a driver has consumed alcohol or drugs or has any medical condition and that it is affecting the driver’s physical or mental ability.
    • This sanction requires a lower threshold of evidence for the peace officer but results in a less serious penalty.
    • You will be immediately suspended from driving for 24 hours, your vehicle may be seized for 24 hours, and the peace officer may seize your driver’s licence.
    • Once the 24-hour period expires, the suspension is lifted automatically, and you do not need to re-instate your licence. You do, however, need to secure your licence back from the police (if they took it) before you can drive again.
  1. IRS: Novice: This sanction is only imposed upon drivers who hold a learner’s licence or a probationary licence. A novice driver is not permitted to have any amount of alcohol in their system.
    • You will be immediately suspended for 30 days, your vehicle will be seized for 7 days, you will receive a fine of $200 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you may be subject to additional reinstatement conditions.
  1. IRS: Commercial: This sanction is only imposed upon drivers who are operating a commercial vehicle, such as a delivery truck or bus, with any drugs/alcohol in system. Like novice drivers, commercial drivers are not permitted to have any amount of alcohol in their system. The penalty for this sanction depends on whether it has happened before:
    • First time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 3 days, you will receive a fine of $300 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you may be subject to additional reinstatement conditions;
    • Second time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 15 days, you will receive a fine of $600 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you may be subject to additional reinstatement conditions;
    • Third and subsequent time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 30 days, you will receive a fine of $1,200 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you may be subject to additional reinstatement conditions. 
  1. IRS: Warn: This sanction is imposed when a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a driver has between 50-80 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The penalty for this sanction depends on whether it has happened before:
  • First time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 3 days, your vehicle will be seized for 3 days, you will receive a fine of $300 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you may be subject to additional reinstatement conditions;
  • Second time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 15 days, your vehicle will be seized for 7 days, you will receive a fine of $600 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you will need to participate in the ½ day Crossroads education course;
  • Third and subsequent time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 30 days, your vehicle will be seized for 7 days, you will receive a fine of $1,200 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you will need to participate in the 2-day IMPACT education course.
  1. IRS: Fail: This sanction is imposed when a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that you:
  • operated a motor vehicle while your ability to do so was impaired to any degree by alcohol or a drug or by a combination of alcohol and a drug; or
  • within 2 hours after ceasing to operate a motor vehicle, had a blood alcohol concentration that was equal to or exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood; or
  • within 2 hours after ceasing to operate a motor vehicle, had a blood drug concentration that is equal to or exceeds any blood drug concentration for the drug (prescribed by regulation under the Criminal Code); or
  • within 2 hours after ceasing to operate a motor vehicle, had a combined blood alcohol and drug concentration equal to or exceeding the limits prescribed by the Criminal Code; or
  • failed or refused , without a reasonable excuse, to comply with a demand made under section 320.27 of 320.28 of the Criminal Code.

If a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that you fall under any of the above IRS: Fail infractions your licence will immediately be suspended. Your vehicle will be seized for a set period of time and you will need to participate in an education course and pay a fine.  You will also need to participate in Alberta’s IRS: FAIL Ignition Interlock Program.

This is the most serious type of sanction and may also be accompanied by a criminal charge. The penalty for this sanction depends on whether it has happened before:

  • First time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 90 days followed by 12 months of mandatory participation in the Alberta Ignition Interlock Program, your vehicle will be seized for 30 days, you will receive a fine of $1,000 plus a victim fine surcharge, and you will need to participate in the 1-day Planning Ahead education course;
  • Second time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 90 days followed by 36 months of mandatory participation in the Alberta Ignition Interlock Program, your vehicle will be seized for 30 days, you will receive a fine of $2,000 plus a victim fine surcharge, you will need to participate in the 2-day IMPACT education course, and you will be charged under the Criminal Code;
  • Third and subsequent time: You will be immediately suspended from driving for 90 days followed by lifetime participation in the Alberta Ignition Interlock Program, your vehicle will be seized for 30 days, you will receive a fine of $2,000 plus a victim fine surcharge.

The peace officer who issues your licence suspension will fill out and serve you with a “Notice of Administrative Penalty.” This Notice will indicate the type of IRS, the penalty, and the reason(s) for your licence suspension.

What is the Alberta Ignition Interlock program?

The Ignition Interlock, colloquially referred to as a “blow box,” refers to a breathalyzer installed in your vehicle which would require you to blow into a mouthpiece before operating the vehicle. It prevents your car engine from being started if it detects alcohol on your breath. If you receive an IRS Fail, you will need to participate in the Alberta Ignition Interlock program for a set period of time prior to your licence being reinstated without conditions.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be an Alberta resident,
  • Have 30 days or less remaining in your minimum 90-day driving suspension term, and
  • Complete the required remedial education course (you are required to present your course completion certificate to the installer at the installation appointment).
  • Not be currently serving any other suspensions.

You can apply for the Ignition Interlock program by purchasing an application from any Alberta Registry Agent and submitting it to Driver Fitness and Monitoring. You will receive a letter in the mail advising you of whether you have been accepted. You will then have to get the device installed in your vehicle and consult an Alberta Registry Agent to obtain a restricted driver’s licence.

The Traffic Safety Act does allow for exemptions to the mandatory blow box.

In order to be exempted, a driver must show it is not feasible to comply with the requirement. Feasibility is defined as “the physical incapacity or physical incapability to comply”.

Feasibility does not include financial constraints, vehicle inaccessibility, or occupational hardship. In place of the blow box, you may be able to serve a longer suspension or be given an additional condition.

Read our comprehensive article on ways to beat an Immediate Roadside Sanction!
Alberta Immediate Roadside Sanctions

Penalties for an Immediate Roadside Sanction in Alberta

An Immediate Roadside Sanction is not a criminal offence. Because it is issued by the Alberta Government and not the federal government, it will not show up on your criminal record. This holds true regardless of whether you fight the IRS or not.

However, an IRS can have very significant consequences.

Immediate consequences:

  • Suspension: The suspension can vary depending on IRS but may be anywhere from 24 hours to 90 days and a lifetime of driving with a blow box. A first-time IRS Fail has a suspension duration of 15 months. After the initial 90-day period, you are eligible to apply for and participate in the Ignition Interlock program for 12 months. If you do not participate in the Ignition Interlock program, your licence will be suspended for an additional 12 months after the initial 90-day period (15 months total). It’s important to note that IRS: FAIL for the third time results in lifetime suspension.
  • Costs of Ignition Interlock Program (approximate):
    • $63 + gst for the Alberta Registry Agent fee for the application,
    • $145 + gst for the installation ($245 for heavy trucks and specialty vehicles),
    • $95 + gst per month for renting the device, and
    • $50 + gst for the removal.
  • Fines and Tow Bills: An IRS can come with heavy fines depending on the type of sanction. The amount can vary between $200 and $2,000. These fines may also include a victim fine surcharge, making it a costly penalty. Additionally, you will be required to pay any fees related to the seizure, towing, and storage of your vehicle.
  • Cost of Mandatory Education Courses (approximate):

Collateral consequences:

  • Insurance premium spikes: Because it will show on your driver’s abstract that you participated in the Ignition Interlock program, your insurance provider may increase your insurance premiums.

Reviewing an Immediate Roadside Sanction in Alberta

How do I schedule a review to get my licence back?

The window of time for filing an IRS review is very short. You must initiate the review within 7 days of receiving the suspension in order to be heard by SafeRoads Alberta.

SafeRoads is the adjudicative branch of Alberta Transportation and resolves appeals within 30 days. The process for applying for a review is outlined on the back of your notice of administrative penalty and on the SafeRoads website.

There are several critical steps in this process:

  1. Log in to the Saferoads online portal

The online portal allows suspended drivers to pay fines, access their disclosure, schedule a review of their suspension, and upload documents. You can access the portal on the SafeRoads website or click here. In order to find your matter, you will need to input your:

  • Contravention number (found at the top of the Notice of Administrative Penalty),
  • Last name,
  • Date of birth, and
  • Occurrence time.
  1. Request the review

Once you log in to the portal, you may request a review of your IRS, either in written or oral form. This review has a non-refundable fee of $150. To request the review, find the box on the right side of the main page entitled “Apply for a Review”. It looks like this:

Calgary Immediate Roadside Sanctions

Note that you must request a review within 7 days of your suspension. While late reviews can be allowed up to 12 months after the date you are suspended, late reviews are only permitted in exceptional circumstances. These circumstances as per the Provincial Administrative Penalties Regulation include situations where you were unaware of the administrative penalty, you were unable to respond due to physical or mental incapacity, or you experienced unforeseen and unavoidable events rendering you unable to respond. Late reviews will be exceptional and you must take prompt action in order for it to be considered.

  1. Schedule a review 

After requesting a review, you must then select a date and time. This date must be within 21 days of your suspension. You can change this date and time one time before the scheduled review however, it still must fall within 21 days of the suspension. While SafeRoads offers several options for a review slot, it cannot guarantee additional time slots will be available, so ensure you book a day that will allow time for your defence to be prepared. 

  1. Upload your documents

Your written argument and any supporting documents (such as witness statements or photographs) can be submitted through the portal. They must be submitted at least 2 full calendar days before the scheduled review.

Regardless of the type of hearing you choose, SafeRoads will consider all the relevant information before it, including:

  • Police disclosure including reports and notes,
  • Sworn or affirmed statements,
  • Footage such as Body Worn Camera and In-Car Digital Video (if available), and
  • Any other relevant information.

If you want SafeRoads to consider your side of the story (beyond just the legal arguments), you should consider submitting an affidavit (a sworn or affirmed statement of your version of events) as part of your materials.

After considering the evidence and your submissions, SafeRoads will either uphold your licence suspension or cancel it.  In either case, they will notify you of their decision in writing within 30 days from the day the penalty was issued.

If your licence suspension is cancelled, you will be able to go to an Alberta Registry Agent to get your licence back. Additionally, you will be entitled to seizure cost reimbursement.

While all the above can be done by you, due to the technical nature of the review, it is highly recommended that you hire an experienced lawyer to help you with this process. Once retained, we can perform all the steps on your behalf.

What are the best arguments for a successful IRS review?

Although losing your driving privileges can have incredibly negative and potentially long-term consequences for you, SafeRoads cannot consider any issues of hardship caused by your licence suspension. For example, if you lose your job because you need a valid licence to work, or if you need your licence to drive your children to school, SafeRoads will not consider those factors in making its decision.

Impaired driving investigations are highly technical in nature and every case is fact-specific. The strongest arguments to successfully appeal your IRS will depend on the particular circumstances of your case.

The grounds for appeal of an IRS will typically include:

  1. Factual innocence: You can argue that you did not commit the offence that you are being accused of. For example, if you received an IRS because you drove a motor vehicle while you were impaired, you can argue that you were not impaired or that you were not driving a vehicle.
  2. Evidence was collected in a way that violated your rights: If the police collected evidence in a way that was inconsistent with your Charter Rights, this factor may be used to bolster your defence.
  3. Reasonable excuse: If you received an IRS because the police claim that you refused or failed to comply with a demand, you can argue that you had a reasonable excuse to do so. For example, if you tried to provide a breath sample but were not able to because of a medical condition, or if you refused to provide a breath sample because you were not properly afforded your right to contact a lawyer, you may be able to convince SafeRoads that you had a reasonable excuse to fail to comply with the demand.
  4. Legislative defences: There are a number of technical defences that our lawyers can utilize to appeal your licence suspension. For example, if the director did not provide complete records to the recipient as required by law, you may be able to argue that it would be unfair for SafeRoads to uphold your Notice of Administrative Penalty.

How can I help review my Immediate Roadside Sanction in Alberta?

If you have been served with an immediate roadside sanction in Alberta, the following can help your lawyer prepare their written or oral argument:

  • Provide your lawyer with a statement about what happened;
  • Collect and maintain all documents and record about the event;
  • Gather a list of witnesses that may support your version of events; and
  • Log any relevant texts, emails, receipts, prescriptions, or photographic evidence.

As soon as you can, you should start to gather any information that may be of use to your lawyer. What information is relevant will depend on the facts in your case. If you are uncertain about what information may be relevant, you should contact one of our lawyers immediately to create a plan of action for gathering information.

What can a lawyer do to help me review my Immediate Roadside Sanction in Alberta?

When you log into the SafeRoads portal, the Administrative Penalties Information System will provide you with access to the disclosure package that will be considered by SafeRoads in your hearing.

In preparation for the hearing, our lawyers will do the following:

  1. Thoroughly review police actions and the evidence against you,
  2. Prepare the arguments (oral or written) for your review hearing, and
  3. Assemble evidence to support your arguments.

Some of the strategies that our lawyers use include:

  • Preparing and having you and/or other witnesses swear or affirm an Affidavit in support of your version of events,
  • Assembling photos and videos,
  • Identifying mistakes in the actions of the police which undermine your Charter-protected rights,
  • Researching past decisions that support your arguments, and
  • Uncovering administrative and technical errors.

Our experienced impaired driving lawyers will then argue before SafeRoads, either in an oral hearing or with persuasive written arguments, that your licence suspension should be cancelled.

What’s Next?

We have tried our best to provide a general outline of what you can expect if you find yourself in this situation; however, IRS investigations (and the associated possible defences) are highly technical and fact-specific.

Even if you think that there is no hope that your review would be successful, our team of experienced DUI and IRS lawyers will review your case thoroughly and find as many arguments as possible to challenge your roadside suspension.

To learn more about how we can help, please contact our team of lawyers within the 7-day review period to conduct a thorough review of your situation. We will work with you to custom tailor a precise strategy to conduct a successful IRS review.

Client Reviews

Fantastic defence team! Mateya Selders was puntual at every instance. She skillfully guided me through my case from its dreadful start to successful finish. Combined with her legal know-how, experienced team, and exceptional service; she has made an otherwise tragic turn of events into a memorable hinderence.

5 stars can’t even come close to convey my gratitude. Thank you Mateya and the Strategic Criminal Defence team!

G.C.

I wanted to thank Michael and his team for being outstanding and providing the best customer service. Thank you for winning my case. I really appreciate it. We all make mistakes and learn from them. Thank you again Michael. Highly recommended! Best lawyer in Alberta and Calgary!!

E.G.

I can’t thank enough to Joseph Beller. I got into a funny situation charged by CPS. This is a horrible place to be in, anyone who needs help should reach out ASAP.

He was very professional, calm, made the case go very smooth, good communication, answered my questions. Reliable! He cares about his clients, I trusted him 100%.

Charges have been withdrawn within a few months. 100% recommend him and his team to anyone in need! I wish more lawyers would be like him!

C.R.

Had my first criminal offence and unfortunately ended up with assault charges after drinking too much. Greg took the time to review the evidence and noted that there was actually no assault on one of the allegations! He was so patient with me and dealt with my fear and anxiety amazingly, answering my million questions all hours of the day. It took forever, due to delay from prosecution, but I ended up with a resolution of a peace bond that was acceptable while also allowing me to deal with the consequences of my actions. I hope to never be in a position to see Greg again, however, I highly recommend him and his team for these tough situations!

M.E.
I recently found myself assisting my elderly father with an urgent legal situation while from out of province. Attorney Greg Janzen went above and beyond from A-Z. He walked us through every step seamlessly. Resulting in a better than expected outcome. You can count on Greg Janzen!

R.E.
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