In what scenario does an IRS fail occur?

An IRS fail occurs when an officer suspects that a driver has committed an impaired driving offence. This situation is critical because the safety of the driver and others on the road is at stake. Impaired driving poses significant risks, and law enforcement takes this matter seriously.

In such cases, officers are trained to observe signs of impairment, which might include erratic driving behavior, difficulties with performance tasks, or odor of alcohol. If they perceive that impairment is evident, they can require the driver to undergo further testing, such as a breathalyzer test. If the driver is suspected of impairment and either fails to comply with the test or the results indicate impairment, this leads to an IRS fail designation.

In contrast, minor traffic violations do not indicate impairment, and even exceeding speed limits or refusing to take a breath test does not inherently suggest a failure of the IRS unless it relates specifically to impairment. Therefore, the specific context of impaired driving distinguishes this scenario as the point at which an IRS fail occurs.