Mandatory Alcohol Screening Effective January 1, 2026

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) will implement Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) as an additional measure to improve road safety and reduce impaired driving within Saskatoon.

Under MAS, officers with the SPS Traffic Unit and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan conducting traffic stops may require, i.e. lawfully demand, a driver to provide a roadside breath sample into an approved screening device, without requiring suspicion of impairment.

The authority for MAS has existed since 2018 following changes to the Criminal Code for impaired driving, and has been implemented by other police services across the province. This local implementation reflects a commitment to consistent, province-wide road safety practices.

What drivers can expect:

  • If stopped, be prepared to provide a roadside breath sample.
  • The screening process is designed to be brief.
  • Drivers are expected to comply with the lawful demand.