A woman will pay a four-digit fine and is barred from driving for a year after being caught behind the wheel in Inuvik at nearly twice the legal limit.
In Inuvik Territorial Court, the woman, who Inuvik Drum has chosen not to name because this is her first impaired driving conviction, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content over .08. Chief Judge Robert Gorin fined her $1,750 and barred her from driving for a year.
"You don't have a related record, but what's concerning is you have recent convictions," said Gorin in his judgment. "Even if there was no joint submission, this is the sentence I would have arrived at."
Crown prosecutor Billi Wun told court on Sept. 10, 2019 the woman was observed by police driving on Millen Street and making a rolling stop at a stop sign going onto Mackenzie Road.
RCMP attempted to pull her over. She did not immediately respond, drifting in and out of the lane twice. When she finally pulled over, she parked partially on the road and traffic had to move around her. She struggled to find her paperwork and had the odour of liquor.
A roadside test was conducted, which she failed. Police then took her back to the detachment and took two breath samples, where she blew at .13 and .14 blood alcohol content.
"She understands she has a problem with alcohol," said defence lawyer Evan McIntyre. "She intends to go to residential treatment."
Gorin gave the woman four months to pay off the fine.