Three men and one woman with ages ranging from 28 to 47 were fined between $1,000 and $1,600 for drinking-and-driving offences in Sarnia court on Wednesday.
Facts presented during their guilty pleas showed blood-alcohol levels ranged from one-and-a-half to three times the legal limit.
All of the drivers were given one-year driving bans.
Keven Theriault, 35, of St. Clair Township pleaded guilty to the May 12 impaired care or control of an ATV at his home, and was fined $1,000, the minimum amount.
A citizen’s complaint about driving on a St. Clair Township road sent police to Theriault’s home. He was seen climbing onto an ATV and preparing to start it.
Theriault appeared intoxicated and breath tests showed his blood-alcohol level was more than one-and-a-half times the legal limit.
Theriault did not start drinking until he got home and was unaware a driver can be charged while on private property, said defence lawyer James Guggisberg.
There’s been a lesson learned, said Guggisberg.
Michael McDonald, 45, of Dawn-Euphemia Township pleaded guilty to the May 17 driving while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit in Enniskillen Township and was fined $1,500.
McDonald’s vehicle was stopped after it left a liquor store at 7 p.m. McDonald told the officer he had a couple of drinks.
Breath samples showed McDonald’s blood-alcohol level was nearly triple the legal limit.
The level was so high that an elevated fine was warranted, said Justice Anne McFadyen.
Kathleen Marie Argent, 28, of Fraser, Mich. pleaded guilty to the June 19 impaired driving in Warwick Township.
Argent’s speeding and swerving vehicle was stopped on Highway 402. The vehicle’s speed was 150 kilometres per hour in a 100-kilometre zone and it had passed vehicles while traveling in the right-hand lane.
There was an open case of beer on the passenger’s seat. Argent said she had consumed two beers but her blood-alcohol level was one-and-a-half times the legal limit.
“I am remorseful,” said Argent.
A $1,500 fine was sought by assistant Crown attorney Abby Avery because of Argent’s erratic driving.
The conviction may have an impact on her Michigan driver’s licence, said McFadyen.
Michael Partridge, 47, of Sarnia pleaded guilty to the June 28 impaired driving in Enniskillen Township and was fined $1,600.
Partridge’s vehicle was stopped after it swerved over the road’s centre line and also onto the gravel shoulder. There were empty cans of beer in the vehicle along with an open thermos of beer. Partridge told an officer he had drank two beers.
Breath samples showed his blood-alcohol level was more than triple the legal limit.
The elevated blood-alcohol level warranted the $1,600 fine, said McFadyen.
“I apologize for drinking and driving. I realize it was irresponsible and stupid,” said Partridge.
Source: The Sarnia Observer