Alcotest 7000 Approved for Breath Screening

Summary#

This Order adds the Alcotest 7000 to the list of approved breath-screening devices in the Approved Screening Devices Order under the Criminal Code. The Order was registered and came into force on January 4, 2023 (signed by David Lametti on December 12, 2022).

What it does#

• Lists the Alcotest 7000 as an “approved screening device” that police can use in impaired-driving investigations under the Criminal Code.
• Makes small drafting edits to the Order’s title and wording; these are technical and do not change how the law works.
• Confirms the approval was based on the recommendation of the Alcohol Test Committee (ATC) of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, which found the device met its equipment standards.

Who's affected#

• Police and other law enforcement agencies across Canada. They can choose to buy and use the Alcotest 7000 for roadside screening.
• Drivers who are stopped for suspected impaired driving may encounter this device during a roadside screening.
• Manufacturers and suppliers of breath-testing equipment, since the Alcotest 7000 is now an approved option.
• If unclear: the Order does not force any police service to buy or use the device — it only permits its use.

Why it matters#

• Approval allows the Alcotest 7000 to be used at the roadside to screen people for the presence of alcohol. That can change what equipment police use during traffic stops.
• Police agencies that adopt the device will face purchase and training costs. The Order itself does not require those purchases.
• The ATC evaluated the device and recommended approval, and a public comment period received no submissions. The change is procedural: it adds another approved tool but does not change impaired-driving rules.