Drunk driver caught in Kitchener, four times over limit, says he doesn’t have drinking problem

KITCHENER - A man caught driving with more than four times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood says he doesn't have a drinking problem.

My client indicates that he does not have any substance abuse issues, that this was a completely out-of-character, one-time event," defence lawyer Sarah Harvey told Justice John Lynch in Kitchener court on Wednesday.

On Oct. 8 at 1:35 a.m., another motorist saw the man's Honda CR-V on Weber Street East in Kitchener. It was swerving, unable to stay in its own lane and cutting off other drivers, Crown prosecutor Katie Krafchick said. At one point it ran a red light.

The concerned motorist called police and updated dispatch on the CR-V's location. On Franklin Street North, it almost hit a median and then crossed the centre line.

When police stopped the CR-V at 1:40 a.m. on Franklin, the driver, 41, reeked of alcohol and had glassy eyes and extremely slurred speech," to the point where the officer could barely understand what he was saying, Krafchick said.

The officer asked the accused to exit the vehicle," she said. Upon doing so, the accused stumbled, nearly falling on the flat paved asphalt surface."

The officer had to help him get in the cruiser. Numerous open beer cans were found in the CR-V.

A breath test at 3:26 a.m. revealed the man had 332 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

The man grew up in Kitchener but now lives in Gatineau, Que.

His marriage was going through its dissolution and he had come to the Kitchener area to visit his parents and he found himself in a situation before the court today after consuming a large amount of alcohol and then choosing to drive," Harvey said.

My client indicates that he wanted the court to know on his behalf that this was a huge mistake that he's made, he's sorry and it's not indicative of who he is."

The man told the judge he wanted to reinforce the fact that I'm not this person."

Lynch was skeptical.

Sir, whether you're acknowledging it or not, there's an alcohol problem here," he said. Anyone who can even find their vehicle with readings that high is someone that is no stranger to alcohol."

Lynch agreed to a recommendation from the Crown and defence for a $2,000 fine and a one-year driving ban. The man got credit for having no prior record and pleading guilty to the over-80 charge soon after his arrest.

Gordon Paul is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on crime for The Record. Reach him via email: gpaul@therecord.com