Sarnia courthouse (The Sarnia Observer)
Mitchell McNaughton, 24, of Sarnia pleaded guilty Tuesday to driving while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
During the early morning of June 24 McNaughton took his father’s car and rear-ended a parked vehicle on a city street. There was significant damage to the car he had taken without his father’s consent.
The father had not consented because McNaughton did not have a driver’s licence and told the court he has never had a licence.
After the crash McNaughton returned home and told his father and the police were called.
McNaughton was arrested and subsequent breath tests showed his blood-alcohol level was nearly triple the legal limit.
Assistant Crown attorney David Nicol sought a $2,000 fine due to the significant collision with a vehicle that he did not have the owner’s consent to drive and McNaughton’s blood-alcohol level.
“He put the community in danger,” said Nicol.
McNaughton had no criminal record and the minimum fine is $1,000.
McNaughton, who represented himself, told the court he was willing to accept any consequence.
The elevated fine was warranted, said Justice Mark Hornblower.
The mandatory surcharge increased the financial penalty to $2,600 for the driving offence.
Hornblower placed McNaughton on a year’s probation when he must take substance-abuse counseling. for the vehicle offence.
A one-year driving ban was also imposed.
Source: The Sarnia Observer