Guy pulled over by police made 'a big mistake'

Richard Speers agreed with a judge Monday that taking a cab home last month would have been wiser than getting behind the wheel after he had been drinking.

Instead of doing that, the 38-year-old Sault Ste. Marie man decided to drive in the early morning hours of July 18, and was nabbed by police.

And for what Speers called a "big mistake", he is paying a lot more than maybe the $35 or $40 he estimated a taxi would have cost him.

He was fined $1,500 in court and prohibited from driving for a year after he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

Ontario Court Justice John Condon heard Speers caught the eye of city police officers as he made his way along Goulais Avenue at 1:15 a.m.

He made wide turns onto Second Line West and Korah Road and was weaving slightly in the lane, prosecutor Nancy Komsa said.

When one of the officers spoke to Speers after he pulled into a driveway on Devon Road, he noted a strong odour of alcohol, the assistant Crown attorney said.

The accused failed a roadside breath test and was taken to the police station where he recorded readings of 108 and 98 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

"They weren't overly high readings, but he certainly made a mistake driving that night," duty counsel Gary Knox said.

"I made a big mistake," Speers told the judge. "I'm sorry for wasting everybody's time".

Noting Speers' age, Condon said "you've probably heard the drinking and driving message since you were old enough to drive."

The judge suggested Speers take a cab next time and share this advice with any of his buddies who might be thinking about trying to sneak home in their vehicles after consuming alcohol.

Condon also warned him that driving while prohibited "more often and not" results in jail time.

"You may be tempted to drive. Avoid that temptation."