Drunk driving seemed the elephant in the courtroom Tuesday that no one wanted to talk about but everybody wanted to dance with as a man entered a plea to a minor traffic offence.
Cody Shane Ronnquist, 20, pleaded guilty in B.C. Supreme Court to the Motor Vehicle Act offence. He was charged with impaired driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08 after police attended a crash on Halston Avenue.
The officer who investigated the crash reported smelling alcohol. Ronnquist told the officer he’d had some whiskey earlier in the day.
The Crown, however, stayed those charges and the court accepted the man’s plea to the much lesser offence. No reasons were given why the Criminal Code charges were dropped in favour of a provincial statute offence.
Despite the fact the sentencing was for what amounts to a minor traffic offence, Ronnquist was penalized in ways extremely similar to the penalties handed to drunk drivers.
The man was fined $1,700 and prohibited from driving for nine months.
Prosecutor Carol Hawes told the judge the stiff penalty reflects Ronnquist’s poor judgment that day when he turned suddenly in front of another car, causing a fender bender that injured two other people.
She also referred to “concerning entries” on Ronnquist’s criminal and driving record, without specifying what they were. One of the entries, however, caused Ronnquist to lose his licence for a year.
“Mr. Ronnquist has to understand even a small amount of liquor consumed can affect judgment . . . and reaction time, and the perception of a driver,” Hawes said, without suggesting the man was drunk or otherwise impaired by alcohol.
Defence lawyer Ken Walker told the court his client knows he made a serious mistake.
“This was a terrible error and it will not be repeated after this. He has learned,” the lawyer said.
Justice Joel Groves joined in the condemnation, telling the man he needs to get his act together.
“The fact is that drinking and driving at any level . . . is a bad decision that often results in consequences, not only to one self but to others,” he said.
“If you come back to court in any fashion for this type of offence, you will be going to jail,” the judge warned.
Ronnquist will also be required to pay a 15 per cent victim fine surcharge, bringing his total fine to $1,955.
