Members of enforcement agencies across Alberta can regularly be found manning roadside Checkstops looking for impaired drivers or drivers committing other offences.

While the Checkstop program is aimed at detecting impaired drivers in the act, a large component of the program is also aimed at educating the driving public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. The intent of the program is to change public attitude toward drinking and driving rather than to just obtain convictions

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How Does the Checkstop Program Work?

The Checkstop program is quite simple. On a year-round basis, police from across the province set up check points on streets or highways where cars can be stopped at random without interfering with other traffic.

The locations of Checkstops are changed frequently and they seldom operate in one area for more than a few hours at a time.

Police authorities attempt to deal with only a few vehicles at a time and in a manner that will cause minimal inconvenience to a driver.

If police believe that a driver they are checking has had their ability to operate a motor vehicle impaired by alcohol, they can required the driver to take a roadside breath test. Failure to submit to a breath test can result in charges being laid.

Provincial Joint-Forces Checkstop Project

The Provincial Joint-Forces Checkstop project was developed by the Provincial Impaired Driving Committee. The key objectives of the project are to: promote a renewed Checkstop program by raising its profile with Albertans; raise public awareness of impaired driving and its consequences; to show a strong, unified commitment across Alberta by uniting members from the major enforcement agencies (i.e. Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP); and to share operational expertise between enforcement agencies.

The key message of the Provincial Joint-Forces Checkstop project is "If you drink and drive, you will be caught."

The Provincial Joint-Forces Checkstop project serves as a reminder that the province and its police services have adopted a no-nonsense approach to impaired driving enforcement.