For the first time ever, Yellowknife RCMP say someone has been convicted of driving while impaired by fentanyl in the Northwest Territories.
The conviction stems from an incident that happened in the NWT capital last April.
While responding to a call for service in the city’s downtown area, police came across a female driver that appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
Believing that the woman might have been impaired, a sample of her blood was taken and sent for analysis. Police say the test later confirmed that there were traces of fentanyl in her system.
“What is concerning is that this case involved not only impaired driving under the influence of drugs, but fentanyl was found in the person’s system,” said police spokesperson Marie York-Condon in a statement.
“This person faced danger from both drug use and impaired driving. Impaired driving while under the influence of drugs carries the same penalties as alcohol impaired driving as well as the same risks.”
Police say the woman – whose name hasn’t been released – was found guilty of impaired driving during a trial on Oct. 21.
