A 28-year-old Fisher River woman is facing a hefty fine after being caught driving while impaired last weekend.

Constable Larry Neufeld, Media Liaison Officer for the Portage la Prairie RCMP, explains shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 13th, Portage la Prairie RCMP Traffic Services observed a vehicle failing to make a stop at a stop sign located at the intersection of Stephens Avenue and Saskatchewan Avenue East. The vehicle turned west, toward downtown, and proceeded to accelerate over 100 km/h while in a 50 km/h zone.

Neufeld explains the officer conducted a traffic stop and, after smelling the odour of alcohol emanating from within the vehicle, requested the driver provide a breath sample on a roadside screening device. After failing the test, the driver was taken to the RCMP detachment where she provided breath samples to be analyzed. The results of those samples were well over the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.

Neufeld notes the woman's driver's licence had been suspended by Manitoba Public Insurance for being indebted to them.

The driver was charged with operation while impaired of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance while over 80 mg%. She was additionally issued tickets for speeding, driving while disqualified and disobeying a traffic signal. The tickets totalled $1,671.

The driver was issued a serious offence notice and will have to appear before Manitoba Public Insurance to explain why she was travelling over 50 km/h above the posted speed limit.

The vehicle was towed and impounded for a minimum of 30 days.