What Time is it in Alberta?
For more details about Alberta Time Changes and Daylight Savings information, check out our post about that here.
Are Alberta Registries Open on Weekends?
As Alberta registry services are private entities, they are free to determine their hours of operation. There are no provincial rules that dictate that they be open on weekends.
Are Alberta Registries open on Weekends? Some registries, such as Alberta One-Stop Registry, are open 7 days a week, while some others are closed on Saturday and/or Sunday.
*Albert One-Stop Registry is closed on the 2nd Sunday of every month.
Using this handy link here, you will find an interactive Alberta Registries map. You can find the registry agent closest to you that is open on the weekend.
In Summary
- Some Alberta Registries are open on Weekends, and some are not.
- Alberta Registry agents are private companies that make their own hours.
- Use the interactive map to find a nearby registry office for directions and hours and days of operation.
How Many Cars Can You Sell in a Year in Alberta?
Most people are unaware of the fact that there are rules and limits on selling vehicles. Each province has their own set of rules and restrictions.
How Many Cars Can You Sell in a Year in Alberta? You can sell zero cars in Alberta without a seller’s license. There is an exception for selling your personal vehicle.
Selling or “flipping” vehicles in Alberta is prohibited without a permit. Many people do it without knowing it is illegal.
People who sell vehicles regularly without the proper legal documentation are known as ”curbers”. It is basically the car selling version of being a ”poacher”.
It is perfectly legal to sell your personal vehicle as a private sale. If you sell a large number of personal vehicles, you will receive legal information from the authorities. Though it is not clear how many personal vehicle sales annually would trigger suspicion.
These laws also apply to professional dealerships, not just backyard mechanics.
The legality and licensing of vehicle selling is governed by the AMVIC (Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Counsel)
In Summary
- It is illegal to sell or ”flip” vehicles in Alberta without a selling licence through AMVIC.
- There are exceptions for selling your personal vehicle.
- Too many personal vehicle sales can trigger warnings. It is unclear on how many annual private sales would lead to legal issues.
- The law applies to everyone including both backyard mechanics and dealerships.
- Unlicensed vehicle sellers are known as ”Curbers”.
Can You Ride in the Back of a Pickup Truck in Alberta?
You have probably heard that it is illegal in Alberta to ride in the back of a truck. Yet, you have seen people in the back of a pickup truck during a parade, or in a work truck doing a job. So what’s the truth?
Can You Ride in the Back of a Pickup Truck in Alberta? It is illegal in Alberta for a passenger to ride on the outside of the vehicle, and this includes the back of a pickup truck. There are specific exceptions in the law for certain work situations, parades, and other circumstances that require special approval.
When you are driving, you must not allow anyone to ride on the outside of your vehicle. This includes the open box of a pick up truck. You and the other person can be charged for this offence.
https://www.alberta.ca/traffic-laws.aspx
Here is the actual wording of the law according to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act:
A person shall not ride or permit any other person to ride on any portion of a motor vehicle that is outside of the passengers’ or driver’s cabin or cab of the motor vehicle.
There are some specific exceptions to the law that do allow you to ride in the bed of a pickup truck.
Exceptions to the Law
It is only legal to ride in the back of a pick up truck in the following scenarios:
- in those circumstances where the nature of the person’s occupation requires the person to ride in the box of a truck, or
- where the person is engaged or otherwise employed in agricultural, horticultural or livestock raising operations and riding in the box of a truck is directly related to one or more of those operations;
- in or on a fire-fighting vehicle;
- in or on a vehicle engaged in highway construction or maintenance;
- in or on a vehicle forming part of an entertainment exhibition that has been approved by the council of the municipality within which the exhibition is taking place;
- on a maintenance or service vehicle on which a special seat or stand has been affixed providing for the safety of the person so riding;
- in a mobile treatment centre module mounted on the back of a truck that meets the requirements for a commercial vehicle equipped with a mobile treatment centre module established in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation (AR 121/2009), for the purposes of transporting injured or ill workers
- from a work site to the nearest health care facility when an ambulance is not available, or
- to meet an ambulance.
As you can see, there are exceptions to the rule for work, parades or emergency situations, otherwise it is not legal to have passengers riding in the back of your truck.
For example: you can not just toss the kids in the back of the truck and head to the grocery store. You would likely receive a fine for doing so.
In Summary
- It is not legal to have passengers riding in the back of a pickup truck in Alberta.
- There are specific exceptions to the rule for things like parades, emergencies, and certain work activities.
- You can face fines for allowing passengers to ride on the outside of your vehicle.
Can A Peace Officer Pull You Over In Alberta?
A Peace Officer in Alberta is more than one type of officer. It is a term that covers several kinds. While you may have seen vehicles that say ”Peace Officer” on the side, many other officers are considered Peace Officers in the law.
Can a Peace Officer pull you over in Alberta? A Peace Officer can pull you over in Alberta. According to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, a peace officer may signal or direct a driver of a vehicle to stop the vehicle, and request information from the driver of the vehicle and any passengers in the vehicle.
It continues on from there to explain more activities that a Peace Officer may do.
Full Alberta Traffic Safety Act
You will find this section by scrolling all the way down to Section 8: Division 3: ”Peace Officers”.
What is a Peace Officer in Alberta?
The Alberta Traffic Safety Act defines a ”Peace Officer” as a police officer under the Police Act; a member of a police service under the Police Act; an investigator designated under section 2.1; a peace officer appointed under the Peace Officer Act for the purposes of this Act; a park warden appointed under the Parks Canada Agency Act (Canada); a conservation officer appointed under section 1 of Schedule 3.1 to the Government Organization Act; a forest officer appointed under the Forests Act; a wildlife officer appointed under the Wildlife Act.
This is all found under the same act linked to above. It is under the “Interpretation” section.
In Summary
- Any Alberta Peace Officer can pull you over and request documentation.
- They may also request information from your passengers.
- Many types of law enforcement are covered under the definition of Peace Officer in Alberta.
Is Hitchhiking Legal in Alberta?
Many people use hitchhiking as a regular mode of travel. Most people only do it in emergency situations. Sometimes you don’t have a choice. But is it legal?
Is hitchhiking legal in Alberta? There is no legislation prohibiting hitchhiking in Alberta. However, individual municipalities may have their own bylaws within city limits. Hitchhiking outside city limits on provincial roads and highways is currently legal in Alberta, though not recommended.
Full Alberta Traffic Safety Act
Edmonton is an example of city where it is explicitly illegal to hitchhike within city limits.
Here is a screenshot of the Edmonton Hitchhiking Bylaw:
Check with your local bylaws before making your trip.
In Summary
- There is no provincial law against hitchhiking in Alberta, Canada.
- Some municipalities have their own bylaws, making hitchhiking illegal within town or city limits.
- Edmonton is an example of a city where hitchhiking is illegal.
- Generally speaking, anywhere that has laws forbidding hitchhiking, has allowable exceptions for emergency situations.
- While hitchhiking in most areas of Alberta is legal, authorities warn about the dangers of this activity, and strongly advise against it.
Can I get an Alberta Drivers Abstract in B.C.?
You may already know you can get your drivers abstract online or in person quite easily in Alberta. But what happens if you need it, and you are outside of the province?
Can I get an Alberta Drivers Abstract in B.C.? You can get your Alberta drivers abstract in B.C., or from anywhere outside of the province. The steps are slightly different, as it involves notarization, but it can be done.
Follow this link to the official government of Alberta website for instructions an printable forms to get your Alberta Drivers Abstract.
Get your drivers abstract from outside Alberta here
When getting your drivers abstract from outside of Alberta, you have to involve a notary public and have it notarized, then send it in.
Steps to get Drivers Abstract from Outside of Alberta:
- Visit the link above and open the Notarized Request Form. Print it off and fill it out. DO NOT sign it yet.
- Take the form to a notary public. They need to verify your identity and witness your signature.
- Send the document into an Alberta Registry.
After a period of time, you will receive your Alberta Drivers Abstract in the mail.
If you are getting a drivers abstract from inside Alberta, it is much simpler. You can do that at any registry office or get it online.
In Summary
- You can get an Alberta Drivers Abstract from B.C. or from anywhere outside of the province.
- The application process is different and involves a notary public.
- You must have a notarized document and signing witness to verify your identity.
- After sending the request, you will receive your Alberta Drivers Abstract in the mail.
Does Alberta Have Public Auto Insurance?
In Canada, every province can choose to do auto insurance however they want. Some are private industries, and some are publicly funded.
Does Alberta have public auto insurance? Alberta does not have public auto insurance. The auto insurance in Alberta is a purely private industry only.
While the insurance agencies are private and independent, they are overseen by the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB).
Wether a province has public or private insurance, either way, auto insurance is mandatory to drive in Canada.
Every province and territory in Canada technically has access to some form of private insurance. Some are purely private, like Alberta, but some are a hybrid.
A province with a hybrid auto insurance structure generally means there is a certain amount of mandatory coverage from the public system, while you can add extra services privately.
Provinces and Territories Private or Hybrid Auto Insurance Chart
| Province/Territory | Private or Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Alberta | Private |
| Newfoundland/Labrador | Private |
| Nova Scotia | Private |
| Prince Edward Island | Private |
| New Brunswick | Private |
| Ontario | Private |
| Yukon | Private |
| North West Territories | Private |
| Nunavut | Private |
| British Columbia | Hybrid |
| Manitoba | Hybrid |
| Saskatchewan | Hybrid |
| Quebec | Hybrid |
Of the 13 total Canadian Provinces and Territories, 9 of them are purely private. The rest are mostly public with some form of private additions.
In Summary
- Alberta does not have public auto insurance.
- The Alberta auto insurance industry is purely private, and overseen by the A.I.R.B.
- Alberta is 1 of 9 Provinces and Territories that are private.
- The other 4 Provinces and Territories have public auto insurance or a hybrid.
Is it Legal for a Woman to be Shirtless in Alberta?
The matter of public nudity is handled at the Federal level in Canada. It is a criminal matter that extends across the country, not just Alberta.
Is it Legal for a Woman to be Shirtless in Alberta, Canada? Nudity in public is currently illegal everywhere in Canada. Section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code makes it illegal to be nude in a public place, or in a private place that can be seen by the the public. There are petitions by activist groups attempting to get the law removed or changed.
Section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code
The law is a bit vague and leaves the door open for interpretation on a few issues.
Some people fighting for a change to the law have argued it is too vague and violates certain rights and freedoms. For instance, the wording might suggest you are a criminal if you are nude in your home and someone can see you in the window.
The issue of women being shirtless, the question we are discussing here, is not cut and dry according to the law. At least not when it comes to enforcement.
By the letter of the law, it would be a crime for a woman to be bare chested in public. It would come down to the environment where it happened, and whether or not someone made a complaint. If the nudity was coupled with other activities that are criminal or a nuisance to the public, there would likely be a complaint by a member of the public, and you would be charged accordingly.
Here is the nudity law from the Canadian Criminal Code:
Nudity
- 174 (1) Every one who, without lawful excuse,
- (a) is nude in a public place, or
- (b) is nude and exposed to public view while on private property, whether or not the property is his own,is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
The second section gives a broad definition of nudity:
Nude
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order.
This is a broad definition of nude as it uses words like ”offend” and ”decency”. It is expected that you use common sense.
If a woman walked shirtless through a crowded mall, or around a public beach, especially where there is children, there would likely be a problem. People would complain, and by the letter of this law, you could face criminal consequences.
In Summary
- Public nudity is a crime in Canada according to section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code.
- Nudity is defined in the law as ”a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order.”
- While aspects of the law seem vague and broad reaching, common sense plays a role in this issue.
- There are activist groups with petitions who have been trying to remove this law or have it changed.
Can You Record Someone Without their Consent in Alberta?
The laws regarding the recording of people are handled at the Federal level in Canada. It applies to not only Alberta, but across the country.
Can you record someone without their consent in Alberta? According to section 184 of the Canadian Criminal Code, Canada is a one-party consent country. This means you can record without consent if at least 1 participant of the conversation is consenting. It is illegal to record from a 3rd party perspective if nobody in the conversation gives consent or has knowledge of it, where there is an ”expectation of privacy”.
Section 184 of the Canada Criminal Code
This answer should not replace actual legal advice. You should read through the law yourself to gain an adequate understand of all the circumstances involved.
In a nutshell, it is legal to secretly record a conversation if you are a member of the conversation, or have consent from a member of the conversation. But only if there is not an ”expectation of privacy” in the situation.
If you record a private conversation without consent or implied consent, you could be guilty of a federal crime, and face up to 5 years in prison.
184 (1) Every person who, by means of any electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device, knowingly intercepts a private communication is guilty of
Section 184 ”Interception”
(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
The law then goes on to lay out the ”exceptions”. This is the Saving Provision.
There is a bit more to this law than these screenshots, but this is the bulk of it.
In Summary
- Canada is a one-party consent country.
- It is legal (in certain circumstances) to record someone’s conversation without their consent if you are a participant of the conversation or have consent from a member of the conversation.
- Outside of these parameters, it is a federal crime to record a private conversation.
