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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A woman arrested for causing a disturbance at a local bar and consequently charged for carrying marijuana in her pocket the same evening was fined $200 on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old woman was arrested at After 8 Billiards on Feb. 21 around 7:45 p.m. when RCMP responded to a call about a woman "disturbing patrons," said Crown prosecutor John McFarlane.

When police arrived, she was screaming at bar staff and arrested for causing a disturbance. At the RCMP detachment she was searched, said McFarlane, and "one gram of cannabis marijuana wrapped in tin foil (was) found in her left pocket."

Although the woman has a "lengthy record," said McFarlane, she does not have any previous convictions for drug offences.

"You know the problem of substance abuse in this jurisdiction," Judge Bernadette Schmaltz told the woman.

She pleaded guilty in territorial court to possession, the only charge against her, and was given a fine of $200 plus a $30 surcharge.

Drunk driver's blood alcohol level 'extremely high'

A man who drove with "extremely high" blood alcohol levels has been fined $1,725 and banned from driving for 15 months.

RCMP caught the 36-year-old man driving down 50 Street on Feb. 28, Crown prosecutor John McFarlane said in territorial court on Tuesday.

The driver had swerved into another lane and then back into his lane. He then failed to come to a full stop at an intersection. Police stopped the vehicle and the RCMP officer noticed an odour of liquor on the man's breath, said McFarlane.

The driver was arrested at roughly 2:34 a.m., given a breathalyzer test, and was more than twice the legal limit. The man, who does not have a prior criminal record, told the court he was sorry for his actions.

"I don't normally act that way," he said.

"Too many people are hurt, too many people are killed, too much property is damaged," Judge Bernadette Schmaltz replied, referring to drunk drivers.

Driver tells cops he had five beers

A man who admitted to RCMP he had five beers before getting behind the wheel was fined $1,380 in territorial court on Tuesday.

The man, 42, pleaded guilty to driving over the legal limit after an incident on March 15. According to Crown prosecutor John McFarlane, police spotted the vehicle around 2 a.m. weaving into the other lane and pulled back to "almost hit the police vehicle." The vehicle was pulled over and the driver told the officer he had five beers. He was arrested and failed a breathalyzer test.

Defence lawyer Abdul Khan told the court the man's wife died in 2001 and he has been left to care for their three children. Although he has a criminal record, it is unrelated to the charge of driving while intoxicated.

"That time of night you could've killed somebody," said Judge Bernadette Schmaltz. "Anyone who drinks and drives is a potential killer ... you have three children you are setting an example for."

He was also given a one-year driving ban.