Several drivers were handed hefty penalties in Stettler Provincial Court on Dec. 9 for extremely high paces of speeding and driving while unauthorized.
Paul Andre Berube, 29, of Peace River was fined $5,000 for various counts of driving a vehicle with no insurance, sentenced to four months in jail for various counts of driving while suspended and fined $100 for failing to appear in court.
Stopped by police east of Stettler on June 23, 2010, and currently serving time in Peace River Correctional Centre, he has seven previous charges of no insurance that date back to 2004 and six previous charges for driving while suspended.
“You are a menace on the highway by your record,” said Judge Jim Mitchell, who reviewed eight pages of criminal convictions.
“Your driving record is the worst I’ve seen since I’ve been a judge for 11 years.”
“You have no respect for the rules of the road.”
Judge Mitchell also ordered that the Traffic Safety Board review Berube’s record to determine if he is eligible to acquire a legal driver’s licence.
“I’ve been trying to better myself and I’d like to pay off all my fines,’ said Berube.
Richard Henri Moisan pleaded guilty to speeding when he was caught traveling at 177 kilometers per hour in a 100-km zone on Highway 2 near Airdrie on Sept. 18.
Judge Mitchell reserved sentence to Jan. 25 and ordered Moisan to provide information that he has completed defensive-driving training which Moisan said he completed before the incident.
“I have no excuse for what I did, “said Moisan.
Crown Prosecutor Murray McPherson even suggested that with such a high speed, Moisan should have his driver’s licence suspended for 90 days.
Ryan Drummond was fined $600 for travelling 158 km/hour in a 100 zone and $230 for open liquor in a vehicle.
“The high speed and open liquor in a vehicle did jeopardize people’s lives,” said Crown Prosecutor McPherson.
Zachary Paul Beagan was fined $400 for traveling 161 km/hour in a 100-km zone on Highway 835 near Highway 601 on a motorcycle with a passenger.
As the final ride on this vehicle before he sold it the next day, Beagan also admitted to taking a course in defensive driving.
Destini Ann Cyr was fined $1,050 for driving a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content exceeding .08 with an early guilty plea.
With the lower reading of 220 milligrams when she was stopped by police on Nov. 19, 2010, she was also suspended from driving for one year.
Daniel J. Trout was fined $600 for theft after pulling out a stop sign along Highway 56 near Stettler on Aug. 20, 2009.
“This is a serious offence and a theft that creates public danger,” said Judge Mitchell.
“It’s an act of stupidity,” said Crown Counsel McPherson.
Logan Tremblay was fined a total of $1,350, with $1,150 for assault and $200 for failing to report a collision when he drove into a light pole in Stettler last December.
With one punch, he broke the jaw of a local man in a Stettler bar in August 2009.
“Keep your paws off other people,” said Judge Mitchell.
“Unless you clean up your act, you belong in a cage.”
Tremblay paid the full restitution of $5,166 to the victim for loss of work and wages.
He was also placed on probation for one year, ordered to take counseling and treatment for substance abuse and anger management and to complete 60 hours of community service in the first seven months of his probation.