Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000 | Driving

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Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000
Impaired charge was dropped for careless driving plea
Harold Carmichael, Sudbury Star,  Driving
Apr 05, 2022  •  April 5, 2022  •  2 minute read  •  Join the conversation

A Chelmsford woman who crashed into a snowbank resulting in a drug-impaired driving charge has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving under the
Highway Traffic Act.
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Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000 | Driving

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“I just want to say I’m sorry and I do want to get back on track.” Melissa Lacoste, 30, said via audio link in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury. “I appreciate the
charge being changed and everything. I just want to say I’m sorry.”
Justice Randall Lalande, accepting a Crown and duty counsel joint sentencing submission, fined Lacoste $1,000 and issued a one-year probation order that includes
the condition she complete the province’s Back on Track program.
“It’s important for you to realize, Miss Lacoste, had the Crown chose to proceed with the drive-impaired charge, there would have been a fine and (driving) prohibition
and conviction as a criminal offence,” he told Lacoste. “The penalty would have been much more severe than it is today. This seems to have impacted yourself. There
are elements of remorse in your representation in the court. That is important.”
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The court heard Greater Sudbury Police were called Thisabout
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vehicle collision on Elm Street at Municipal Road 35.
Investigating officers found a Mitsubishi Eclipse had crashed into a snowbank paramedics  were treating the driver – Lacoste – for minor injuries.
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Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000 | Driving

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Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000 | Driving

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As Lacoste appeared to be impaired, she was tested and produced a zero reading for alcohol. She ended up being charged with drug-impaired driving.
“Some of her symptoms of impairment could have been attributed to the accident,” assistant Crown attorney John Recoskie told the court via Zoom.
Recoskie, in his sentencing submission, noted Lacoste had a dated record consisting of a drug possession conviction.
In his sentencing submission, duty counsel Louis Jean said Lacoste is “normally a law-abiding citizen” and is working.
“She is very remorseful for what happened,” he told Lalande via Zoom link. “She has told me she will make every effort to stay out of trouble and not get back to where
she was before.”
As a result of the careless driving plea, the Crown dropped the drug-impaired driving charge.

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Ontario driver who crashed into snowbank fined $1,000 | Driving

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