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Noelville man used false names to get driver?s licence

By Keith Lacey Dating back 40 years ago, Canadians who suffered from certain medical conditions weren?t allowed to drive.
By Keith Lacey

Dating back 40 years ago, Canadians who suffered from certain medical conditions weren?t allowed to drive.

Rene Joseph Delfice Viau of Noelville was one of those Canadians as he had his driver?s licence suspended back in 1960 because he was diabetic.

However, that didn?t stop Viau from obtaining a driver?s licence by falsifying his first name and using other first names and dates of birth to get his licence.

Viau has also been convicted nine times since 1958 for impaired driving.

A year ago, on Aug. 4, 2001, Viau was reported to police as being a prohibited driver in relation to a 1999 drunk-driving conviction. Viau received a four-month jail sentence at that time and was prohibited from driving for three years.

When he was stopped last summer, not only was Viau disqualified from driving, but he was also in possession of a driver?s licence.

Defence counsel Denis Michel told the court Viau had falsified his name and date of birth to obtain two different driver?s licences over the years.

Viau had his licence suspended in 1960 because he was diabetic. When the law changed, he never made the effort to obtain his licence using his actual name and date of birth.

Michel said his client suffers from numerous medical conditions and has to take several prescription pills every day.

Viau, 66, acknowledged in 1999 at the time of his drunk-driving conviction that he?s an alcoholic. He?s stayed sober since and has joined a support group, said his lawyer, who asked for a fine of $2,500 and a further three-year driving prohibition.

Assistant Crown attorney Guy Roy agreed to the joint submission, but said it?s clear Viau has not only been driving while prohibited for more than 40 years, but he?s accumulated a horrendous record of drunk-driving offences dating back to 1958.

?This is a man who absolutely should not be behind the wheel ever again,? he said. ?I hope he?s learned his lesson finally and won?t drive.?

Justice William Fitzgerald agreed to the joint submission.