Not every roadside stop in British Columbia ends with an IRP. Police can also serve a 24-hour prohibition for alcohol or drugs, and new drivers face a separate 12-hour suspension for any alcohol or drugs.
The 24-hour prohibition
Police can issue a 24-hour prohibition if they have reasonable grounds to believe that alcohol or drugs affected your ability to drive and you had care or control of a vehicle.
- It starts when you are served and lasts a full 24 hours.
- Police don’t have to offer a breath test or physical coordination test, but you can ask for one.
- Police may impound the vehicle for 24 hours. That impoundment can’t be appealed, and you pay the towing and storage.
- The prohibition stays on your driving record permanently, and RoadSafetyBC can consider it in a driving record review.
- Three 24-hour prohibitions may lead RoadSafetyBC to require the Responsible Driver Program, the Ignition Interlock Program or both.
Reviewing a 24-hour prohibition
You must apply for a review within 7 days, and late applications are not accepted. The grounds are narrow: for alcohol, that you were not the driver or in care or control, or that the officer did not give you a breath test you asked for; for drugs, that you were not the driver or in care or control, or that the officer did not give you a physical coordination test you asked for. This review can’t be done online.
L and N drivers: the 12-hour suspension
Drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program and Class 5 drivers with restrictions must have no alcohol, THC or cocaine in their body. If they do, police can issue a 12-hour suspension.
- You surrender your licence and can’t drive until it ends.
- A 12-hour suspension can’t be reviewed.
- A second prohibition restarts your N period, and L drivers must retake all required tests.
- If your BAC is 0.05 or higher, or you are affected by drugs, you face the same consequences as a fully licensed driver.
Drug-affected driving
Drugs are treated seriously. Police can use a 24-hour prohibition, an Administrative Driving Prohibition, or Criminal Code charges for drug-impaired driving, including THC limits measured in blood.
Frequently asked questions
A 24-hour prohibition stays on your driving record permanently, and RoadSafetyBC can consider it in a driving record review.
You can apply for a review within 7 days, on narrow grounds. Late applications are not accepted, and the 24-hour impoundment itself cannot be appealed.
No. GLP drivers must have no alcohol, THC or cocaine in their body, or they can receive a 12-hour suspension.
A second prohibition restarts your Novice period, and Learner drivers must retake all required tests.
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This article is general information about British Columbia and Canadian impaired driving law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Penalties, fees and procedures can change; speak with a lawyer about your situation.
Sources: Government of British Columbia, RoadSafetyBC, Alcohol-related driving prohibitions; Apply for a review of a driving prohibition; Responsible Driver Program; Ignition Interlock Program; Department of Justice Canada, Impaired driving laws.
