Alcotest 7000 Added to Approved Screening Devices

Summary#

This is a proposed order, published October 8, 2022, to add the Alcotest 7000 to the list of devices that police can use under the Approved Screening Devices Order of the Criminal Code. If approved, it would let law enforcement buy and use this breath‑screening device; the public comment period was 30 days after publication.

What it does#

• Adds the Alcotest 7000 to the list of “approved screening devices” that police may use in impaired‑driving checks under the Criminal Code.
• Makes a minor wording change to the long title of the Approved Screening Devices Order to match modern drafting style (the change is said to be non‑substantive).
• Notes the device was tested and recommended by the Alcohol Test Committee (ATC) of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science because it met the committee’s equipment standards.
• Says the order would come into force on the day it is registered (no specific registration date given).
• Opens a public comment period of 30 days from publication for people to make representations about the proposed change.

Who's affected#

• Police services and other law enforcement agencies across Canada that conduct roadside alcohol screening — they can choose whether to buy and use the Alcotest 7000.
• The Attorney General of Canada is the official who approves devices for use under the Criminal Code (this is the federal approval step that would permit use).
• The Department of Justice is the contact for the proposal and handled the Canada Gazette notice.
• No clear impact on small businesses, Indigenous treaty obligations, or the environment was identified in the notice.

Why it matters#

• This approval would give police more equipment choices for detecting alcohol at the roadside, which could affect how some impaired‑driving checks are done locally.
• Police agencies that decide to buy the device may face costs for purchasing units and training officers on their use.
• The change itself does not alter impaired‑driving law or create a new offence; it simply adds an additional model of approved screening device that can legally be used in investigations if agencies choose to adopt it.