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Driving & IRS

What Is an Immediate Roadside Sanction?

Understand the notice, the administrative process and the short review window.

Information checked September 4, 2026

General information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures can change. Get advice about your own circumstances before acting. Reading this website does not establish a lawyer-client relationship.

A provincial administrative process

Alberta’s Immediate Roadside Sanctions system can impose driving-related administrative penalties. An IRS review is separate from a criminal trial. Read the Notice of Administrative Penalty and any vehicle-seizure paperwork to identify what has been imposed.

Act promptly on the notice

Alberta’s guidance states that a request to review an IRS notice must be made within seven days of its issuance. Do not confuse an immediate roadside appeal with a later SafeRoads review. The relevant process, grounds and required materials need to be identified quickly.

Prepare the documents

Keep the notice, dates, police paperwork and any relevant records. The SafeRoads portal or a registry agent is used for the review request; an ordinary enquiry email is not a substitute. A lawyer can assess the available grounds without promising cancellation.

Official sources & further reading

Bagga & Associates · Calgary

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