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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:56 am Post subject: 9th Drunk Driving Conviction Nets Year Sentence! |
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Here's a case in Canada where an individual, after his 9th drunk driving
conviction, gets sentenced to one year in prison.
That's totally messed up!
No wonder he keeps on drunk driving? If the penalty is so light -- 9th conviction is just for one year in jail -- why stop the behavior?
Canada is famous for its weak-on-crime justice system with its light sentences and country club prisons.
It's the guy's ninth drunk driving conviction and he only gets a year in prison! My God!
Thank God he didn't kill anyone so far. And there were likly many other times when he was drunk driving but he didn't get caught.
I'm happy to see the media covering this story as that will make people
mad and these angry people will put pressure on the government to change the law to become stricter when it comes to drunk driving.
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See article at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/09/14/drunk-driver.html or see below:
| Quote: |
9th Drunk Driving Conviction Nets Year Sentence
A St. John's man has been given a one-year jail sentence following his ninth conviction for drunk driving.
"Your record is abysmal," provincial court Judge Gloria Harding told Wayne Johnson during a sentencing hearing on Friday.
"It's obvious that despite your prior convictions, you have not learned," Harding said. "You continue to get in trouble."
Johnson had pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Thursday. He told the court then that his problem was not with drinking, but with drinking and driving together.
Harding, though, scolded Johnson for what she described as a "lack of insight," and told him that it has indeed been his drinking that has led to problems.
She recommended that he take advantage of any programs that are offered to him in jail.
The Crown and defence had recommended a 12-month sentence � far less than the maximum five years � because Johnson's last conviction was 15 years ago.
But David James, whose car was sideswiped by Johnson in July 2006, does not think Johnson deserved a break simply because of the span between convictions.
"I don't think that somebody should be credited just because they got a 15-year gap," James said.
"We didn't know about this other set of charges. They should take some consideration for that as well."
Christine Care, who works with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the case was shocking.
"This person has a real problem with drinking and driving, and that endangers the lives of everyone driving on the highway," she said Thursday.
Harding also banned Johnson from driving for five years upon his release. |
Source: CBC News; Friday, September 14, 2007;
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlandlabrador/story/2007/09/14/drunk-driver.html |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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Lucky he didn't kill someone.
Damn fool! |
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regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:18 am Post subject: Re: 9th Drunk Driving Conviction Nets Year Sentence! |
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| Geckoman wrote: |
Here's a case in Canada where an individual, after his 9th drunk driving
conviction, gets sentenced to one year in prison.
That's totally messed up!
No wonder he keeps on drunk driving? If the penalty is so light -- 9th conviction is just for one year in jail -- why stop the behavior?
Canada is famous for its weak-on-crime justice system with its light sentences and country club prisons.
It's the guy's ninth drunk driving conviction and he only gets a year in prison! My God!
Thank God he didn't kill anyone so far. And there were likly many other times when he was drunk driving but he didn't get caught.
I'm happy to see the media covering this story as that will make people
mad and these angry people will put pressure on the government to change the law to become stricter when it comes to drunk driving.
____________________________
See article at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/09/14/drunk-driver.html or see below:
| Quote: |
9th Drunk Driving Conviction Nets Year Sentence
A St. John's man has been given a one-year jail sentence following his ninth conviction for drunk driving.
"Your record is abysmal," provincial court Judge Gloria Harding told Wayne Johnson during a sentencing hearing on Friday.
"It's obvious that despite your prior convictions, you have not learned," Harding said. "You continue to get in trouble."
Johnson had pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Thursday. He told the court then that his problem was not with drinking, but with drinking and driving together.
Harding, though, scolded Johnson for what she described as a "lack of insight," and told him that it has indeed been his drinking that has led to problems.
She recommended that he take advantage of any programs that are offered to him in jail.
The Crown and defence had recommended a 12-month sentence � far less than the maximum five years � because Johnson's last conviction was 15 years ago.
"We didn't know about this other set of charges. They should take some consideration for that as well."
Christine Care, who works with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the case was shocking.
"This person has a real problem with drinking and driving, and that endangers the lives of everyone driving on the highway," she said Thursday.
Harding also banned Johnson from driving for five years upon his release. |
Source: CBC News; Friday, September 14, 2007;
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlandlabrador/story/2007/09/14/drunk-driver.html |
A judge has the discretion to "throw the book at someone" or in this case impose the minimum because of the long gap. There used to be a time when the record was cleared after ten years in the States and it would have been considered a first time offense. MADD and other organizations have got most of what they wanted. Now there is no Judicial discretion anymore? I was shocked too when I first read the headline, but after hearing about that gap it is much ado about nothing.
Correct sentence, Judge.
A day in prison is a long time, much less a year. It is not a " light " sentence. |
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happeningthang
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:03 am Post subject: Re: 9th Drunk Driving Conviction Nets Year Sentence! |
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| regicide wrote: |
Correct sentence, Judge.
A day in prison is a long time, much less a year. It is not a " light " sentence. |
Agreed. Anyone who thinks a year in jail is being let off has some strange ideas about sentencing.
Considering the last charge was 15 years ago, I'd even consider the sentence to be a bit harsh. |
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