They are three letters that carry a lot of weight: IRP.

They stand for Immediate Roadside Prohibition, a tool RCMP officers can use in their campaign to take impaired drivers off the road. With holiday season Christmas parties starting up, now is a good time for a refresher on the IRP program.

鈥淭he province wanted consequences for the driver to be timely and effective,鈥� said Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Sgt. Colby Attlesey, a 19-year veteran with the force who was a trainer for the IRP program when it was rolled out to police to help alleviate the backlog of drinking-driving cases before the courts.

鈥淧rior to the IRP program, the drivers did not face consequences until after the criminal matter was settled, often one-to-two years afterward. So with the IRP program the prohibition takes effect immediately after the driver provides a breath sample over the limit (or refuses to provide a breath sample).鈥�

Officers have three legislated reasons in B.C. where they can pull over a driver:

1. To check for a valid driver鈥檚 licence;

2. To check for proof of insurance;

3. If they observe a driving infraction/crime.

As well, the courts have also added that police may pull over a vehicle to ensure that the driver is sober.

鈥淲hen being pulled over by the police it has to be for one of these reasons,鈥� said Attlesey, a two-time member of Alexa鈥檚 Team, a program that recognizes dedicated police officers throughout B.C. who diligently work to reduce the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs.

鈥淐heck stops (like the ones held annually during the RCMP CounterAttack program) would fall under case law authority.鈥�

IRPs are issued when an officer has taken a breath sample from a driver and it has registered either a Warn or a Fail on an approved screening device. These devices are checked every 28 days by trained officers (Attlesey is a qualified breath technician, meaning he can take breath samples, and he also calibrates the screening devices). IRPs are also issued if a driver refuses to provide the breath sample.

If you鈥檙e pulled over, a Criminal Code investigation (for impaired driving, driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher) and an IRP process begin.

鈥淭he officer will inform you for the reason for the stop,鈥� said Attlesey. 鈥淯nder the Criminal Code a police officer may demand a breath sample from a driver into a roadside screening device if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have alcohol in your body.鈥�

The results of the first sample will determine the officer鈥檚 next move.

The roadside screening devices will show three different displays:

* 000-059 鈥� These are blood-alcohol readings (eg 0.059). There are no sanctions unless an 鈥淣鈥� driver;

* Warn 鈥� This word is shown if the reading on the screening device is 060-099 (Attlesey said the Vernon-North Okanagan screening device will not show Warn until 0.06 is reached. This is set this way to give further benefit to the driver. As well the Criminal Code limit is 0.08 but the device does not trigger a Fail until 0.10 is reached, again for the benefit of the driver);

* Fail 鈥� This word is shown if your blood-alcohol is 100 and over.

Alcohol readings are dependent on how much blood you have in your body to mix with the alcohol.

One hundred millilitres of alcohol into four litres of blood will give a higher reading than someone who has five litres of blood. Since muscle tends to contain more blood then other tissue types, heavier people will be able to consume the same amount of alcohol but produce lower readings.

鈥淭here are several other factors such as type of alcohol (mixed hard, straight hard, wine, beer), empty versus full stomach but these tend to affect how fast the alcohol is absorbed by the body more then what the final reading would be,鈥� said Attlesey.

If you blow a Warn, police may issue a three-, seven- or 30-day IRP after having given you the opportunity to provide a second sample in a different screening device.

If you blow a Fail, the officer will detain you for an impaired driving investigation.

鈥淵ou will be given your rights to counsel, police warning and breath demand (this is for a larger instrument that is housed at the police detachment),鈥� said Attlesey. 鈥淭he officer will then look at your driving record and criminal record (if you have one).

鈥淚f you have no prior IRPs or any criminal convictions for serious impaired driving offences (like causing death, for example) then you will be a candidate for the IRP program. You will be offered a second chance to provide a sample on a different screening device. The lower of the two readings will prevail (say you blow a Fail first, then on the second sample a Warn, police will treat it as a warn). The officer will prepare the paperwork, explain it to you and give you a copy.鈥�

On three- and seven-day IRPs, impounding the vehicle is optional at the officer鈥檚 discretion. On 30- and 90-day IRPs, vehicle impound is mandatory.

鈥淯sually the only reason that will sway an officer not to impound is a sober driver who is willing to take responsibility,鈥� said Attlesey. 鈥淭he officer has to be certain that the driver will not drive the vehicle for the next three-to-seven days.鈥�

If you鈥檙e issued an IRP, you do not have a criminal record, which is one of the goals of the program. But, it will go on your driving record.

Attlesey said the best thing drivers can do is simply plan ahead by arranging a ride home, taking a bus or calling a taxi or a driving company.

鈥淭here are so many factors you cannot control if you are trying to consume alcohol in a responsible manner,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the end police want safe roads. Planning the night to ensure you get home safely and that you did not endanger anyone else is a win-win situation.鈥�

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