Manitoba’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) program took effect on December 16, 2019. It lets police deal with many impaired drivers at the roadside, using the result of an approved screening device, instead of laying criminal charges.
Warn: .05 to .079
A warn result brings a tiered Administrative Licence Suspension based on how many suspensions you have had in the last 10 years:
| Warn suspensions in 10 years | Licence suspension |
|---|---|
| First | 72 hours (7 days if a passenger under 16 is in the vehicle) |
| Second | 15 days |
| Third | 30 days |
| Fourth or more | 60 days |
A warn also brings a 5-level drop on the Driver Safety Rating scale, a licence reinstatement charge and an administrative penalty of at least $400. On a first warn, your vehicle is impounded for three days. Two or more suspensions in 10 years mean an Impaired Driver Assessment at your own expense. The same warn penalties apply to a failed physical coordination test or drug recognition evaluation.
Fail or refuse
A fail result, or refusing to provide a sample, brings:
- a three-month Administrative Licence Suspension;
- a $700 administrative penalty;
- vehicle impoundment;
- a 10-level drop on the Driver Safety Rating scale;
- one year of mandatory ignition interlock; and
- an Impaired Driver Assessment.
What the IRP is not
An IRP is an administrative sanction, not a criminal conviction. Police can still lay Criminal Code charges, particularly where someone is hurt or a reading is high.
Challenging an IRP
You can ask MPI to review the suspension. Reviews look at whether you were the driver or in care or control, the test results, and whether a second test was requested and performed. Hardship is not a ground for review. See also Manitoba DUI penalties.
Frequently asked questions
72 hours, or 7 days if a passenger under 16 is in the vehicle.
A three-month suspension, a $700 penalty, vehicle impoundment, a 10-level Driver Safety Rating drop and one year of ignition interlock.
No. It is an administrative sanction from MPI. Criminal Code charges are a separate process.
Yes. You can apply to MPI's Registrar for a written or oral review.
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This article is general information about Manitoba and Canadian impaired driving law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Penalties and procedures can change; speak with a lawyer about your situation.
Sources: Manitoba Public Insurance, Alcohol impairment and Impaired driving consequences; MPI, Administrative Suspension Review Application; Government of Manitoba, news release, May 1, 2026; Department of Justice Canada, Impaired driving laws.
