B.C. Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite says she will not step aside as MLA while her impaired driving case is dealt with in the courts. (janethornethwaite.ca)

B.C. Liberal Jane Thornthwaite has no plans to step down while she faces impaired driving charges and Premier Gordon Campbell agrees that the North Vancouver-Seymour MLA should stay on the job.

Thornthwaite was stopped at an RCMP roadcheck in North Vancouver early Tuesday morning and later was told she tested over the legal blood-alcohol limit.

'People make mistakes, and I've made them myself'—B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell

A spokesman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving suggested Tuesday that Thornthwaite step aside while her case is before the courts.

"I understand why they would say that but I don't agree with what they're saying," Thornthwaite said in a Vancouver news conference Wednesday.

"I do have a job to do and I am admitting that I made a mistake and I need to move forward and do my job and regain the trust of my constituents."

Thornthwaite issued a statement Tuesday acknowledging that she was driving after drinking and issued apologies to her family, friends, colleagues and constituents.

Campbell, who was convicted of impaired driving in Hawaii in 2003, said he would not ask Thornthwaite to step aside as an MLA.

"I think we have to accept the apology that Jane has given," Campbell said Wednesday.

"She's got the opportunity now to earn back the respect and trust of her constituents, and that's what she should be given the opportunity to do."

"People make mistakes, and I've made them myself," Campbell added.

The opposition in the legislature also said it would not be asking for Thorthwaite to step aside.

Sent tweet praising B.C. wines

It might have been a different matter if she was a cabinet minister, said B.C. NDP MLA Mike Farnworth. But for now, he said, the affair should simply be dealt with by the justice system.

A government spokesman said she allegedly recorded a .11 blood-alcohol level in a breathalyzer test. The legal limit is .08.

Thornthwaite said she was returning home after visiting a couple of Olympic pavilions and had consumed alcohol, although she would not say how much she drank.

Earlier this week, Thornthwaite had made a posting on the internet about all the Olympic events she was attending.

At one point she Twittered, "Those B.C. wines are the best."

The contrite MLA said she was not swearing off alcohol, but would never again drink and drive.

Thornthwaite is scheduled to make a first court appearance in April.