For a blood alcohol concentration above 160 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood
Step 1 – Receiving a letter from the SAAQ
On reception of the judgment from the court, we will send you a letter confirming:
- your conviction
- the revocation of your licence
- the end date of your penalty period
- whether you are eligible for a restricted licence related to a conviction for alcohol-impaired driving, which would allow you to drive only a vehicle that is equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device until the end of your driving prohibition
One year before the end of the penalty period, we will send you another letter notifying you that you must take part in the program to assess and reduce the risk of impaired driving. You will be required to undergo either:
- a comprehensive assessment
- OR
- a maintenance assessment, if your 1st assessment resulted in a favourable report
In this letter, we will also inform you that you will be required to have a medical examination report completed by your physician, which you must then mail back to us.
Step 2 – Comprehensive assessment or maintenance assessment
To undergo your assessment, you must register and pay the required fees to our partner in charge of carrying out such assessments.
The comprehensive assessment—which takes 7 to 9 months to complete—involves the implementation of a supervision plan. You will be required to meet the goals set with the assessment professional and to attend 3 mandatory meetings.
The maintenance assessment—which takes a few hours to complete—is to ensure that you do not present a risk of a repeat offence.
At the end of the assessment, the assessment professional writes a final report indicating whether you are capable of dissociating the consumption of alcohol from the safe operation of a road vehicle. You will receive a copy of this report, which will also be sent to us so that we may render a decision.
Step 3 – Decision by the SAAQ
We base our decision on the conclusions of the assessment report, your driving record and your state of health. You will receive our decision by mail.
If you disagree with our decision
You have 60 days to contest it.
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Costs
Alcohol ignition interlock device
- Installation fees: $50.00 + taxes
- Monthly rental fees: $61.00 + taxes
- Withdrawal of the device and cost to close the file: $0.00
Obtaining a new licence
- $420.00 to $560.00
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Step 1 – Receiving a letter from the SAAQ
At the end of your penalty period, you will receive a letter notifying you of our decision to grant you a licence with Condition X. This condition, which requires you to only drive a vehicle that is equipped with an A device that prevents a vehicle from starting when it detects the presence of alcohol in the driver’s body., will be in effect for 3 years or for life, depending on the nature of the first offence of which you were convicted.
Mandatory period during which you can only drive vehicles that are equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device (Condition X)
First offence: Blood alcohol concentration above 80 mg but not exceeding 160 mg | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for 3 years |
First offence: Blood alcohol concentration above 160 mg | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for life |
First offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for life |
Step 2 – Leasing and installing an alcohol ignition interlock device
You are required to lease an alcohol ignition interlock device and have it installed, at your expense and in accordance with our requirements.
If your licence bears Condition I or Condition X
… and you drive a vehicle that is not equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device, you are liable to:
- the immediate seizure and impoundment of the vehicle you are driving for 30 or 90 days
- a fine of $1,500.00 to $3,000.00
- a 3-month licence suspension or the revocation of your licence
Step 3 – Withdrawing Condition X after the 3-year period has ended
If your first offence leads to a conviction for driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mg but not exceeding 160 mg, we will send you a letter 20 days before the end of the mandatory period indicating the procedure to have Condition X withdrawn from your licence.
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Costs
Program to assess and reduce the risk of impaired driving
- Comprehensive assessment: $830.70 + taxes
Alcohol ignition interlock device
- Installation fees: $50.00 + taxes
- Monthly rental fees: $61.00 + taxes
- Withdrawal of the device and cost to close the file: $0.00
Obtaining a new licence
- $420.00 to $560.00
-
Step 1 – Receiving a letter from the SAAQ
If the assessment indicates that you are not capable of dissociating the consumption of alcohol from driving or that you present a risk of a repeat offence, we will send you a letter notifying you that you must:
- undergo another comprehensive assessment with a certified assessment professional
Step 2 – Undergoing the comprehensive assessment
To undergo the assessment, you must register and pay the required fees to our partner in charge of carrying out such assessments.
The comprehensive assessment—which takes 7 to 9 months to complete—involves the implementation of a supervision plan. You must meet the objectives set with the assessment professional and attend 3 mandatory meetings.
At the end of the assessment, the assessment professional writes a report indicating whether you are capable of dissociating the consumption of alcohol, drugs or medication from the safe operation of a road vehicle. You will receive a copy of this report, which will also be sent to us so that we may render a decision.
Licence with Condition I
If your penalty period has ended but you are still in the process of reacquiring your licence, contact us to check whether you can obtain Condition I, which would require you to drive only a vehicle that is equipped with an A device that prevents a vehicle from starting when it detects the presence of alcohol in the driver’s body..
If your application is granted, we will send you a letter authorizing you to lease an alcohol ignition interlock device and have it installed, at your expense and according to our requirements.
If your licence bears Condition I or Condition X
… and you drive a vehicle that is not equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device, you are liable to:
- the immediate seizure and impoundment of the vehicle you are driving for 30 or 90 days
- a fine of $1,500.00 to $3,000.00
- a 3-month licence suspension or the revocation of your licence
Step 3 – Decision by the SAAQ
We base our decision on the conclusions of the assessment report, your driving record and your state of health. You will receive our decision by mail.
If we agree to issue you a licence with Condition X
At the end of the penalty period, you will receive a letter explaining how to obtain a licence with Condition X, which authorizes you to only drive a vehicle that is equipped with an A device that prevents a vehicle from starting when it detects the presence of alcohol in the driver’s body..
The procedure for leasing the device and having it installed is the same as for a restricted licence.
If you have already obtained a restricted licence or a licence with Condition I, this does not affect the period of time during which you will be required to have Condition X on your licence, which is one year.
If your licence has been revoked for 3 years or more
You must retake the knowledge and road tests required for the class(es) in question in order to obtain a licence with Condition X.
Mandatory period during which you can only drive vehicles that are equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device (Condition X)
First offence: Blood alcohol concentration above 80 mg but not exceeding 160 mg | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for 3 years
|
First offence: Blood alcohol concentration above 160 mg | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for life |
First offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer | Second offence: Refusing to obey the order of a peace officer Alcohol ignition interlock device for life |
Step 4 – Withdrawing Condition X after the 3-year period has ended
If your first offence leads to a conviction for driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mg but not exceeding 160 mg, we will send you a letter 20 days before the end of the mandatory period indicating the procedure to have Condition X withdrawn from your licence.
If we refuse to issue you a licence with Condition X
You will be required to undergo another comprehensive assessment by a certified assessment professional.
If you want to contest our decision
You have 60 days to contest our decision.
Last update: June 30, 2025