A Sarnia man picked up two impaired driving convictions during the same court appearance after a pair of arrests just six months apart.
Lee Woods was first arrested around 10 pm on March 28 after failing a roadside breath test while being pulled over in his silver pickup truck on Exmouth Street. Tests at headquarters showed he was one-and-a-half times the legal limit.
With a warrant still outstanding for that incident, Woods, 40, cut across Vidal Street South and drove erratically along some nearby streets on Sept. 26 while trying to avoid a police officer. He went through a stop sign at College Avenue North and Maria Street before finally being pulled over.
The officer noticed two open cans of Coors Light seltzers in the pickup and learned Woods’ license was cancelled, in addition to the warrant. He failed a roadside test again and further tests at headquarters had similar results six months earlier, police said at the time.
“The Sarnia Police Service continues in efforts to ensure safety on the roads by minimizing impaired driving by alcohol or drugs,” police said in a statement after the charges were laid against Woods and two other suspects.
Woods pleaded guilty this week to charges of impaired driving and being over the legal limit within two hours of driving and was sentenced to a total of $3,000, along with a one-year driving ban.
“You’re fortunate that you’re only losing your license for 12 months,” Justice George Orsini said.
Despite the back-to-back convictions, Woods was still considered a first-time offender. Other charges were dropped.