Proposal to Add Alcotest 6000

Summary#

The Attorney General of Canada is proposing to revoke and replace the old Approved Screening Devices Order and to add the Alcotest 6000 to the list of approved roadside alcohol screening devices. This is a proposal published on February 17, 2024 and is open for comment for 30 days after that publication.

What it does#

• Replaces the current order (originally made in 1985) with an updated version that fixes outdated wording and references to the Criminal Code.
• Keeps the existing list of 12 approved screening devices and adds the Alcotest 6000 to that list.
• Notes that the Alcohol Test Committee (ATC) of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science evaluated and recommended the Alcotest 6000 as meeting equipment standards.
• Says the new order would take effect when it is registered by the Privy Council Office.

Who's affected#

• Federal and provincial police and other law enforcement agencies that buy and use roadside breath screening devices. They would decide whether to buy the Alcotest 6000 and train officers on it.
• People stopped and screened by police in impaired-driving checks, since an additional approved device could be used at roadside.
• Device makers and suppliers that sell breath-screening equipment, because the approved list affects what police can purchase.

Why it matters#

• If approved, the Alcotest 6000 could be used by police across Canada for initial roadside alcohol screening.
• Police agencies may face costs to purchase the device and to train officers if they choose to adopt it.
• Updating the order removes outdated legal references and brings the listing in line with modern drafting; however, the change as proposed does not itself change how impaired-driving law works.
• This is a proposal, not a final rule — comments can be made within 30 days of February 17, 2024.