SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 29-year-old Yellowknife man who was caught driving drunk on Franklin Avenue near Old Airport Road was fined $1,955 in NWT territorial court last Friday.

On July 25 the man, who was later found to have more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood, was swerving all over the road at about 35 km/h, said Crown prosecutor Ellaree Metz.

His driving was so erratic, she said, that RCMP received several calls from concerned drivers, some of whom were stuck behind the man in traffic.

"No one wanted to pass the truck because they didn't want to get hit," said Metz.

The one driver who did pass him was nearly struck and another driver had to slam on his brakes when the man's truck got too close, she added.

Metz said the guilty party should be grateful to those who quickly reported his driving to the police, though he may not feel that way sitting in court.

"(It) was actually quite fortunate there was not an accident," she said.

When RCMP arrested the man, he staggered out of his truck and to the RCMP car, nearly falling down. Metz said at one point he blurted out: "I do not sell drugs."

He told police he had only drunk two beers earlier that evening, but an inspection of his vehicle turned up several empty alcohol bottles and one plastic water bottle filled with a clear liquid that smelled like booze, said Metz.

Defence lawyer Dan Rideout told court the incident was a "wake-up" call and that the man had been sober for two years before it occurred.

He added the man is employed full-time and takes care of his father, who is ill.

Speaking to Judge Christine Gagnon, the man added he had not had a drink since the incident and didn't plan to drink again.

In addition to the fine, the man was ordered not to drive for 14 months. Gagnon called it a "hard punishment," not only for the man, but for his father as well.