A local man was given a year in prison after being convicting of driving drunk for the sixth time.
Cameron Paul Thomson, 54, who lives in Three Valley Gap, was sentenced in Revelstoke court last week after pleading guilty to driving over the legal blood-alcohol limit and driving without a licence.
It was his sixth conviction for impaired driving.
“You have to understand you have an alcohol problem,” said Justice Wilfred Klinger during sentencing, noting that in addition to his six criminal convictions, Thomson had several other 24-hour driving prohibitions for driving drunk.
“This is a pattern of behaviour that has to stop,” Klinger said. “Untold misery is caused to people across Canada every as a result of drinking and driving.”
Thomson was caught driving impaired on the Trans-Canada Highway near Three Valley Gap on July 11, 2012. He delivered breath samples of 0.17 and 0.16 – double the legal limit of 0.08. He told the court he was just going to drop off some garbage.
Thomson also received 18 months probation, a three year driving prohibition and was ordered to attend counseling.
Beligerent drunk gets two weeks in prison
A repeat offender was given two weeks in prison for failing to provide a breath sample and obstructing a police officer.
Harvey Scott Hillier, 44, pleaded guilty to the offences and was also fined $1,150 and given a one year driving prohibition in Revelstoke court last week.
“I did it,” Hillier admitted in court last week. “I was being pretty stupid, but what’s done is done.”
On May 11, 2013, Hillier was arrested after police were dispatched to a dangerous driving call on Highway 23 South. Hillier showed signs of impairment and refused to cooperate with police, refusing to provide the spelling of his name and date of birth.
He was taken to the detachment, where he was aggressive and belligerent, Crown prosecutor Angela Ross told the court. He became violent and was lodged in a jail cell until he sobered up.
She presented a five-page criminal record and two-page driving record to the court. The last criminal offence was in 2004, Judge Wilfred Klinger noted while handing down the 14-day prison sentence, which is to be served on weekends.
42 days for driving with suspended licence – three times
A Revelstoke man was given 42 days in jail after pleading guilty to three separate counts of driving without a license.
Lourie Thomas Karr was caught three times in the past two years driving with a suspended license. On May 28, 2011, he was stopped while driving near Armstrong, B.C. On Oct. 11, 2011, he was stopped again near Blackpool, B.C. Lastly, on Apr. 26, 2013, he was stopped in Revelstoke while driving on Laforme Boulevard.
He pleaded guilty to all three counts in July and was sentenced by Judge Wilfred Klinger in Revelstoke court last week. Karr has multiple prior convictions for driving while his license was suspended.
“You’re lucky the Crown hasn’t suggested you go to jail longer,” said Klinger. “You’re a father of children. How would you explain this to your children?”
Karr was sentenced to 14 days in prison on each count, to be served consecutively. He was also fine $500 on each count and given a two year driving prohibition.
“There aren’t many alternatives left if you don’t pay your fines, if you don’t listen to the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles and don’t drive,” said Klinger.