ASAgent Santé#hospital ADSQAgent de sécurité QuébecThe security guard's notebook AAAgent Ambulancier#paramedic APOAgent Pompier#firefighter
Sûreté du Québec constable: $57,222 to $96,901 a yearSPVM: $51,610 to $97,377 a yearSPVM, specialist constable: $102,246RCMP constable: $71,191 to $115,350 a yearRCMP corporal: up to $126,311RCMP sergeant: up to $137,677RCMP staff sergeant: up to $150,073RCMP cadet: $1,000 a weekHighway safety officer: $59,506 to $81,651 a yearMilitary police corporal: $7,606 to $8,071 a monthMilitary police captain: $8,861 to $11,712 a monthPolice officer in Quebec, median wage: $45.08 an hourSûreté du Québec constable: $57,222 to $96,901 a yearSPVM: $51,610 to $97,377 a yearSPVM, specialist constable: $102,246RCMP constable: $71,191 to $115,350 a yearRCMP corporal: up to $126,311RCMP sergeant: up to $137,677RCMP staff sergeant: up to $150,073RCMP cadet: $1,000 a weekHighway safety officer: $59,506 to $81,651 a yearMilitary police corporal: $7,606 to $8,071 a monthMilitary police captain: $8,861 to $11,712 a monthPolice officer in Quebec, median wage: $45.08 an hour
Workplaces

Contrôle routier Québec: mandate, inspection stations and the difference with a police officer

Contrôle routier Québec monitors heavy vehicles, taxis and buses. The SAAQ agency moves to Public Security on January 1, 2027.

Full guide: Peace officer in Quebec

· Lire en français

Contrôle routier Québec, Quebec's highway enforcement agency, does not employ police officers. Its highway safety officers are peace officers whose jurisdiction is limited to transportation. It is the agency of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) that monitors the road transportation of people and goods. It has 31 inspection stations and 22 inspection areas, according to its official page. On January 1, 2027, its mandate moves to the Minister of Public Security. This text applies to women and men highway safety officers alike.

An agency attached to the SAAQ

Contrôle routier Québec's "Qui sommes-nous?" page, modified on June 26, 2026, describes it as an autonomous service agency under the responsibility of Quebec's Minister of Transport and attached to the SAAQ. The SAAQ's Rapport annuel de gestion 2025 writes that it is an integral part of the Société.

Two laws ground this mandate. Section 2 of the Loi sur la Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec gives the Société the function of monitoring and controlling the road transportation of people and goods, on the road and at businesses. Section 519.63 of the Highway Safety Code gives it jurisdiction over this. Section 519.64 also makes it responsible for applying the Loi concernant les propriétaires, les exploitants et les conducteurs de véhicules lourds.

The job itself, its pay and hiring are described in our article on the highway safety officer.

What Contrôle routier Québec monitors

The agency mainly monitors heavy vehicles, taxis and buses. Its "Contrôle sur route" page, modified on June 12, 2026, lists among its tasks:

  • inspecting the mechanical condition, loads and dimensions of vehicles
  • examining the documents of heavy vehicle drivers, including driving and rest hours
  • the safety of taxi and bus transportation
  • operations on the transportation of dangerous goods and school transportation

On the road and at businesses

Highway safety officers work in patrol cars and at inspection stations and areas, the SAAQ writes. The "Présence sur le territoire" page, modified on December 17, 2024, counts 31 inspection stations with scales and 22 inspection areas. A station is a fixed site. An area is a simple widening on the side of a secondary road.

Inspections also take place at businesses. The "Contrôle auprès des entreprises et des mandataires" page, modified on July 6, 2022, states that highway safety officers check the records of heavy vehicles and drivers there, as well as compliance with maintenance standards.

The 2025 results

The SAAQ's Rapport annuel de gestion 2025 covers the year ended December 31, 2025. It does not give the number of highway safety officers. It measures staffing in paid hours.

Indicator2025
Inspection activities on the road, at stations, areas and businesses51,825
Statements of offence19,480
Contrôle routier Québec paid hours930,748
Mandate expenses$105.8 million

Source: SAAQ Rapport annuel de gestion 2025, pages 43 to 47 and the "L'année 2025 en chiffres" table.

Expenses fell by $8.2 million, or 7.2%. The report explains this drop by the slowdown in activities after a ruling of the Tribunal administratif du travail in March 2025. No new cohort was hired or trained in 2025.

The rate of highway safety officers providing optimal coverage of the territory reached 90% in 2025, below the 93% target.

Reaching Contrôle routier Québec or making a report

The "Signalement" page, modified on October 8, 2026, offers two ways: an online form and the number 1 866 471-1277. Only reports concerning the transportation of people and goods are handled. The page cites failure to respect driving and rest hours, a poorly secured load and the illegal transportation of people. The SAAQ general information line answers at 1 800 361-7620.

The move to Public Security on January 1, 2027

The Act assented to on April 2, 2026 (2026, chapter 7) transfers the monitoring and control of road transportation from the SAAQ to the Minister of Public Security. Its section 62 sets the coming into force of these provisions at January 1, 2027.

  • Section 34 transfers the SAAQ's rights and obligations to the Minister of Public Security
  • Section 38 makes employees assigned to highway safety enforcement employees of the Ministère de la Sécurité publique
  • Section 17 leaves the highway safety officers in mechanical inspection with the SAAQ

The SAAQ annual report specifies that these functions remain the responsibility of the Société until that date.

This text summarizes public documents. It is neither legal advice nor union advice.

Further reading

Did you like this article?

Share this article

Facebook LinkedIn Reddit X Email

Frequently asked questions

Where is the highway inspection station currently open in Quebec?

The SAAQ does not publish the opening hours of its inspection stations. Its "Présence sur le territoire" page gives the list of the 31 inspection stations and 22 inspection areas, sorted by region.

How do you make a report to the SAAQ?

You fill out the Contrôle routier Québec report form or call 1 866 471-1277. This service only handles reports on the transportation of people and goods. The SAAQ writes that it will not be able to inform you of the result of its review.

How can I report a driver to the SAAQ?

A report to Contrôle routier Québec concerns the transportation of people and goods. The page asks for the date and time of the event, the location, the description of the vehicle, the licence plate and the contact information of the person or business concerned.

How can I call a highway safety officer?

The Contrôle routier Québec number is 1 866 471-1277. It is used for reports on the transportation of people and goods.

Can a highway safety officer give a ticket?

Yes. Section 519.67 of the Highway Safety Code makes highway safety officers peace officers, and the SAAQ includes writing offence reports among their tasks. The SAAQ annual report counts 19,480 statements of offence in 2025.

What does the law say about roadside inspections?

Title VIII.2 of the Highway Safety Code governs the control of road transportation of people and goods. Section 519.70 allows the highway safety officer to inspect any vehicle concerned and require that it be driven to a safe place no more than 15 kilometres from the place of interception.

Did you like this article?

Share this article

Facebook LinkedIn Reddit X Email

Sources

Read also