Going to police station drunk nets Vernon woman a second impaired driving charge

It’s never a good idea show up drunk at a police station on a matter connected to a drunk driving investigation.

But Vernon RCMP say that’s what happened Wednesday.

The Mounties say a 37-year-old woman was at the detachment for fingerprinting after she was charged in May with impaired driving.

“While dealing with officers inside the detachment, the officers could smell a strong odour of liquor on the woman and cautioned her not to drive her vehicle upon leaving,” states a news release issued by Cst. Kelly Brett. “The woman allegedly advised she would be calling a cab, however when she left the detachment, she got into her vehicle and drove away.”

An officer who followed her says he had to pull up to the driver’s side window with lights and siren activated before the woman noticed she was being pulled over.

She was returned to the detachment where breath samples indicated impairment at three times the legal limit.

Heather Marie Barker now faces a second charge of impaired driving.