my daughter was told at a checkstop a few days ago that her…

It may not be an RCMP mistake but that does not matter. Someone in government made a mistake. The Sheriffs look on a screen that is operated by an arm of the RCMP but they input data from court sources and Motor Vehicle sources so you do not have a villain yet.

This is a practical and bureaucratic type of question. If you get the right Sheriff, then the car ought be returned because on your facts, they have lost the ability to keep it. That will depend on who you talk to as always. It could be that you are told to just go get it from the impound yard. If so, please do that and argue the finer points later. You have to do everything you can to reduce your damages.

Then, you are in negotiation and investigation mode. Contact Service Alberta and inquire as to who made this mistake. This may take some time. But, then the Sheriff may have this information when he or she does contact you.

It is Service Alberta that should wave the fees she paid because they were incurred improperly. Keep all receipts and do not expect a buraucarcy to make you happy instantly. However, if the right person (I mean caring) looks at this, and who knows who that person is, they should respond as you suggested. That is the true answer to your question....it all depends on what person is on the phone and how you handle that person.

Get names and take notes of what you and they say. Make sure the notes have dates and times. As much detail as you can put on paper. This is because if you do not get to speak to a person willing to do the right thing, you have to take the next step.

I am not suggesting lawyers or courts but the Alberta Ombudsman. That office has the ability to investigate any complaint about government services including doing interviews and getting documents. Then they decide whether your daughter was treated "fairly". Law is about evidence and can be rather cold but the Ombudsman's Office has a mandate to see if a citizen has been treated with fairness.

If it turns out that the police were wrong, then you contact their complaints department as an example. But, now, you do not know who is to blame except that someone in government is. Below is the link to the Ombudsman's Site.

http://www.ombudsman.ab.ca/

This may take some time to sort out. Be firm but not angry and persistant.

Best of luck. If this helps, please accept my answer.

Tom