Yellowknife (Apr 16/03) - An intoxicated man who drove into oncoming traffic was convicted of impaired driving for the sixth time last week in territorial court.

Barry Bezaire, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Const. Christian Vezina testified he saw a yellow van turn left onto 50th Street into the oncoming traffic lane.

Bezaire moved into the correct lane, but zigzagged left and right.

Vezina pulled the man over and found Bezaire's speech was slurred, eyes bloodshot and he and his van smelled of alcohol, said Vezina.

The officer asked the man for his driver's licence and registration. For several minutes, Vezina watched him flip through the cards in his wallet. Eventually, Vezina pointed out his licence.

Minutes later, the man asked the officer if he wanted to see his licence.

"He couldn't remember," said Vezina.

The man had difficulty walking and put his hands on the vehicle to keep his balance. He also failed "sobriety tests" but did not complete a breathalyser. Vezina placed him under arrest.

Two unopened cans of beer and one empty can were found in his car.

When cross-examining Vezina, defence lawyer Peter Fulsang asked why Bezaire did not have a breathalyser.

Vezina responded the equipment was broken.

"So he didn't have the benefit of a breathalyser?" asked the lawyer.

"If you can call it a benefit, yes," said Vezina.

Bezaire testified he is a carpenter who was working seven days a week leading up to the incident. He couldn't recall his last day off.

That afternoon, he shared a Six-pack with two others -- but had no more than one or two beers, said Bezaire.

He also testified to having difficulty with his co-ordination.

Crown attorney Johnathon Burke pointed to Bezaire's five previous offences related to impaired driving: the last offence was in 1992. Burke recommended two to three months in jail and a three-year driving prohibition.

Fulsang asked for a fine with a one-year driving suspension.

Judge Arthur Lutz sentenced him to three months in jail with a two-year licence suspension.

"I expect if it happens again, you'll be looking at many more months," said Lutz.