Vehicle Impoundment Registry (VIR)

The Vehicle Impoundment Registry (VIR) oversees motor vehicle seizures and impoundments by:

• determining if the impoundment is legal
• setting the impoundment period
• issuing Notices of Extension
• issuing Orders to Release
• authorizing the disposal of a vehicle
• answering public enquiries
• ensuring police and garage keepers follow the law

Under Section 242.1 of The Highway Traffic Act (The HTA), a vehicle must be impounded if its driver is driving while:

• suspended
• prohibited
• impaired
• committing a prostitution-related offence

A vehicle must also be impounded if the driver fails or refuses a police request for a:

• breath/oral fluid/urine/blood demand
• field sobriety test
• drug recognition evaluation

Vehicle can be forfeited if the driver:

• commits a serious motor vehicle offence
• is a repeat offender, as indicated by the VIR

Contact Us

For more information, including obtaining a copy of the Annual Report, contact Vehicle Impoundment Registry at 204-945-4454 in Winnipeg (1-866-626-4862 ext 4454) or email vehicleimpoundment@gov.mb.ca.

Abbreviations

Justice: Judicial Justice of the Peace who has the authority to conduct trials and sentencing hearings, make protection orders and issue search warrants in Manitoba

Over .08: Having a blood alcohol content greater than .08

Over .16: Having a blood alcohol content greater than .16

Refusal: Refusing of a breath/oral fluid/urine/blood demand

Refusal FST: Refusal of a field sobriety test or failure to follow a peace officer’s instructions about the test

Refusal DRE: Refusal of a drug recognition evaluation test or failure to follow a peace officer’s instructions about the test

VIR: Vehicle Impoundment Registry

The HTA: The Highway Traffic Act