Alcotest 6000 Added to Approved Devices
Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 158, Number 7: Approved Screening Devices Order
A proposed order would revoke and replace the outdated 1985 Approved Screening Devices Order and add the Alcotest 6000 to the list of breath-screening devices usable by police under the Criminal Code. The proposal was published on 2024-02-17, is open for 30 days of public comment, and would come into force on the day it is registered by the Privy Council Office.
Summary
Summary#
This is a proposed update to the Approved Screening Devices Order published in the Canada Gazette on February 17, 2024. It would mainly add the Alcotest 6000 to the list of breath-screening devices police can use, and modernize the old 1985 order. The change is a proposal and a public comment period applies.
What it does#
- Revokes and replaces the 1985 Approved Screening Devices Order to reflect modern drafting and an updated Criminal Code reference (from Bill C-46).
- Adds the Alcotest 6000 to the list of devices that count as an “approved screening device” under the Criminal Code.
- Keeps the 12 existing devices already on the list; the only substantive addition is the Alcotest 6000.
- Notes that the Alcohol Test Committee (ATC) recommended the Alcotest 6000 after finding it meets its equipment standards.
- Says the proposed order would come into effect on the day it is registered by the Privy Council Office.
- This is a proposal. The government is asking for feedback for 30 days after February 17, 2024.
Who's affected#
- Police and other law enforcement agencies across Canada that choose to buy and deploy new screening equipment.
- People who are subject to roadside alcohol screening (drivers stopped by police).
- The forensic and traffic-safety labs and experts who evaluate and certify breath-testing equipment.
- The manufacturer or supplier of the Alcotest 6000.
- If unclear: the proposal does not force any police force to buy the device; decisions about purchase and training are left to each agency.
Why it matters#
- Approval would allow police to use the Alcotest 6000 at roadside checks, giving them one more tool to detect alcohol.
- Police agencies that adopt it may face one-time costs for buying devices and training staff.
- Updating the old order clears up outdated legal references and aligns the rule with recent changes to the Criminal Code.
- Because this is a proposal, the device is not yet authorized for use until the order is finalized and registered.
Key topics
Source: Canada Gazette