Excessive alcohol consumption leads to big fine for motorist

Alcoholics Anonymous is supposed to help people combat their drinking problems, but for one participant, her excessive consumption of alcohol led to an arrest and appearance in court.

Melanie Rae Mytroen, 39, from Moose Jaw, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 3, where she pleaded guilty to impaired operation of a vehicle. As part of a joint submission, she received a fine of $2,000 — with eight months to pay — and a one-year driving ban. She will be able to enrol in the ignition interlock program through Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

The Crown stayed a charge of having a blood alcohol content over the legal limit of .08.

Moose Jaw police were called to the 500 block of Home Street about a report of an impaired motorist driving all over the road on Jan. 1 at 9:05 p.m., Crown prosecutor Stephen Yusuff said while discussing the facts. Police found Mytroen driving a Jeep and followed her as she drove into the parking lot of Urban Cellars; she then exited the lot while driving slowly. Officers activated their lights and managed to pull over Mytroen near Sixth Avenue Southwest.

Mytroen had difficulty finding the button to lower her window while she fumbled through her purse looking for her licence, Yusuff continued. Officers noticed her eyes were glassy and watery. The woman was also unsteady on her feet and swayed when she walked to the police cruiser.

“Ms. Mytroen again was asked if she had been drinking and she broke down crying saying she shouldn’t be driving and that she had been attending A.A. meetings,” he said, adding she told police she had consumed vodka earlier that evening.

Mytroen provided two breath samples, which came back at .370 and .360, or nearly five times the legal limit. Defence lawyer Darcy Dumont told Judge Brian Hendrickson that Mytroen was not working due to health issues, which is why she needed at least eight months to pay the fine. He also asked the judge not to impose a 30-percent victim surcharge as is normally done. Hendrickson agreed to the request and also accepted the joint submission.

“When a person drinks and gets behind the wheel, it’s a risky proposition,” he added. “There was an inherent risk in driving that day.”