Saskatoon police rolling out mandatory breathalyzer tests at traffic stops in 2026

Breathalyzer is used to determine a person's sobriety while driving. Tue., July 8, 2025. CTV NEWS/BARRIE

The Saskatoon Police Service has announced a new measure to tackle impaired driving in the city.

Starting on Jan. 1, traffic police will apply a mandatory alcohol screening during traffic stops, with no required suspicion of impairment.

The authority for officers to demand a roadside breathalyzer without some evidence of consumption isn’t exactly new — stemming from 2018 amendments to the Criminal Code provisions for impaired driving.

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Saskatoon police say they’re stepping up enforcement to align with other services across the country, including the Saskatchewan RCMP, which began routinely demanding roadside breath samples in 2024.

If you get pulled over in 2026, Saskatoon police say you should be prepared to provide a breath sample — it’s considered a “lawful order,” so there could be consequences if you don’t comply.

Police say the screening process is designed to be brief.