Friday, Feb. 1, 2002
A Sudbury man convicted of his fifth drunk driving offence Wednesday, was sentenced to four months in jail and prohibited from driving anywhere in Canada for 10 years.
Court heard Andre Landry, 48, was driving very slowly along the Trans-Canada Highway near Thunder Bay last June 25.
An OPP officer noticed the slow driving and was worried a tractor trailer following the vehicle might be forced to take evasive action.
When he pulled over Landry's car, he noticed several signs of severe impairment. He arrested the driver and breath tests showed Landry had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
Duty counsel lawyer Gerald Brouillette said Landry is a provider for his wife and family and realizes going to jail is going to hurt others besides himself.
Assistant Crown attorney Philip Zylberberg, who asked for a six-month jail term, said the time has come for society to be protected from this accused, who insists on drinking and driving.
Landry told the court how he "let myself and a lot of other people down...and I'm ashamed."
Justice William Fitzgerald told Landry it's not a crime to consume alcohol. "You can drink yourself into oblivion if you want," but getting behind the wheel repeatedly while drunk cries out for a jail sentence, said Fitzgerald.
