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Impaired pleas result in fines for two men

A drinking driver, who blew more than twice the legal limit after his vehicle ended up in a snow bank in March, was fined $1,200 Monday when he appeared in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom.

A drinking driver, who blew more than twice the legal limit after his vehicle ended up in a snow bank in March, was fined $1,200 Monday when he appeared in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom.

Eric Brown, 37, also was banned from getting behind the wheel for one year after he pleaded guilty to impaired driving.

He was charged March 20 after police were dispatched to a single-vehicle collision on Devon Road in the city's west end.

Brown told the officer his brakes failed, he couldn't stop his vehicle and went into the snow bank, prosecutor David Kirk said.

When asked if he had been drinking, he responded no and "it was obvious to the officer that he was lying," the assistant Crown attorney told Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek.

The officer noted the odour of alcohol on Brown's breath. His eyes were glassy, his speech slurred and he was swaying while he stood outside the vehicle.

Brown recorded breathalyzer readings of 174 and 162 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

In addition to the fine, Brown must also pay a further 30-per-cent victim surcharge ($360).

Second driver fined

Also in court Monday, another motorist was given a $1,000 monetary penalty and received a 12-month driving prohibition after he was convicted of an over-80 charge.

Duane Trainor, 52, was arrested April 2, after he attracted the attention of an Ontario Provincial Police officer with radar equipment on Highway 556 in Aweres Township.

The officer clocked the Impala travelling at 95 kilometres an hour in an 80-kilometre zone.

Trainor had a strong odor of alcohol, his face was flushed, eyes red and glassy and his speech slurred, Kirk said.

His breath sample readings were 147 and 140 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

The Crown initially was seeking a $1,200 fine, but agreed to the minimum fine of a $1,000, after hearing Trainor, who is seasonally employed, isn't working right now.

Trainor also was assessed the 30-per cent victim surcharge, bringing his total penalty to $1,300.


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About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
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