B.C. Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite says she was charged with impaired driving after she was stopped at an RCMP road check Monday. (janethornethwaite.ca)

The Vancouver head of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling on B.C. Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite to step aside after she was charged with impaired driving in North Vancouver.

"I think someone that's being fully responsible should step aside until the charges are laid out and everything's transparent," said Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Metro Vancouver president Bob Rorison.

"We hold our MLAs to a higher standard. We expect them to look after us as public tax-paying citizens."

'Can they do their job adequately if they're under criminal investigation?'—Vancouver MADD president Bob Rorison

Thornthwaite was stopped at an RCMP road check in North Vancouver and allegedly registered a blood-alcohol level of .11, over the legal limit of .08, according to provincial government spokesman Shane Mills.

The rookie MLA had been to an Olympic event and had visited two Games pavilions before heading home about 1 a.m. Tuesday, Mills said.

Twitter posts from events

Thornthwaite's participation in several Olympic events were highlighted in recent postings to her Twitter account.

Earlier Monday, she also posted a message saying she was catching the SeaBus downtown, just one of several messages she had posted highlighting her use of public transit and taxi cabs during the Games.

Later that same evening, Thornthwaite tweeted from the Sochi pavilion saying she was having a good time.

On Sunday she posted one tweet saying, "In cab heading to Pacific Coliseum. Cabs are great here in Van," followed 14 minutes later with, "Those BC Wine's are the best!"

Admits to mistake

In a statement Tuesday, Thornthwaite virtually admitted wrongdoing, although she had yet to make a court appearance or have any charges against her proven in court.

"My actions were inexcusable. Drinking and driving is dangerous and completely unacceptable; I know that and make no excuses for what I did," Thornthwaite said

First elected in the May 2009 general election, Thornthwaite is a former dietitian and chair of the North Vancouver Board of Education.

Defended by colleague

"I feel personally saddened, disheartened by the whole event," said Rorison. "I didn't think we'd have any of these situations happening at the Olympics."

B.C. Liberal caucus chair Ron Cantelon said it wasn't necessary for Thornthwaite to give up her MLA duties, which include serving on committees responsible for children, youth and education.

"It's a personal mistake," said Cantelon. "Certainly she needs to — and has — taken full responsibility for her actions."

Rorison disagreed.

"Can they do their job adequately if they're under criminal investigation for drinking and driving? I don't think so," he said.

Premier Gordon Campbell rebuffed calls for his resignation when he was charged and convicted of drunk driving in Hawaii in 2003.