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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife woman who admitted to police she was drunk after being pulled over was fined $1,380 in territorial court on April 9.

The 40-year-old woman had been drinking at After 8 Billiards in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, according to Crown prosecutor Janice Walsh. Someone at the bar had seen her leave the building, get into her vehicle and drive away. Concerned she was too intoxicated to be driving, the person reported her to RCMP.

Walsh told the court an RCMP officer observed a vehicle that matched the description and attempted to stop the driver after the van rolled through a stop sign.

After driving five blocks, the van stopped for police. The driver had "bloodshot eyes" and at times "looked at (the officer) with her eyes completely closed," said Walsh.

She offered her health card instead of her driver's licence when asked for it by the RCMP officer and, after she nearly fell over stepping out of the vehicle, she told the police officer "I'm drunk."

She was arrested and she repeatedly refused to give a breath sample. A passenger in the vehicle was "highly intoxicated as well," said Walsh.

Defence attorney Stephen Shabala said the woman had no previous criminal record and "drinks very rarely." She pleaded guilty to one charge of operating a motor vehicle while impaired.

Judge Brian Bruser said numerous deaths, property damage and injuries are caused by impaired drivers to people throughout the country.

"You told the police officer, to use your words, 'I'm drunk.' And so you were," he said. "The safety of the public, including your passenger, was in your hands and your feet."

In addition to the fine, the woman, was given a one-year driving ban.