SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man was fined $200 and chastised in territorial court last week for speeding on the Ingraham Trail.

"You're lucky you're here and not something worse," said Judge Bernadette Schmaltz.

The man, who is close to 20 years old, was driving near the Yellowknife River bridge at 130 km/h - 60 km/h over the posted speed limit - on May 22, according to lawyer Caroline Wawzonek, who represented the city at the proceedings. Municipal enforcement pulled him over and found him to be driving with two passengers, which Wawzonek said the city found "aggravating," as the man was driving at a dangerous speed.

He was charged with speeding, as well as having tinted passenger windows, which are illegal.

Wawzonek said the tinted passenger windows have been "dealt with another way" but did not specify what that was.

She told Yellowknifer when a vehicle speeds in excess of 50 km/h beyond the posted speed limit, the matter automatically goes to a justice of the peace to be dealt with, as there are no established fines in the city's bylaws. Sometimes the justice of the peace refers the case to territorial court.

She said in matters where the speed between 31 and 50 km/h over the posted speed limit the fine is $100. The minimum fine for speeding in Yellowknife is $50 for speeds up to 15 km/h over the limit.

This case had been set for trial, but the man pleaded guilty to the charges on the day the trial after learning the city was not aiming to have his licence revoked.

Schmaltz noted though the city was not seeking such measures, it was up to her as the judge to decide the punishment, and regardless of her decision the conviction would likely affect the demerit points on his licence.

Schmaltz did not revoke his licence, but instead fined him and let him go with a warning: "slow down."

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