A man already banned from driving for life was recently in court after being pulled over while impaired for a fourth time.
Appearing in a Bracebridge court Stephen Nevill, 42, pled guilty to driving while disqualified, impaired operation of a vehicle and driving without insurance.
Court heard that on March 1, 2022, police were on patrol on Highway 400 in Georgian Bay Township when they saw a vehicle with unconfirmed insurance status. They pulled the vehicle over and found out the driver, Nevill, was suspended from driving for life and they also smelled alcohol on his breath. He ultimately blew readings over the legal limit and police were also able to confirm he was uninsured.
Court heard this was Nevill’s fourth impaired driving conviction, and he has now been convicted of impaired driving twice while he was disqualified from driving.
A proposal was put forward for four months in jail, along with a $5,000 fine, the mandatory minimum for driving without insurance. The defense argued Nevill is on social assistance and the fine should be reduced.
Justice Robert Gattrell had some issues with reducing the fine.
“Paying for the fine should not be cheaper than insurance or why would they pay insurance?” he asked, but did agree to drop the fine to $2,500.
He also had problems with the jail term, saying the only reason the jail sentence could be so low was because the mandatory minimum sentences for those particular driving disqualified and impaired convictions were being imposed concurrently.
“I’m going to align with it but I struggle with it,” he said. “At a certain point, the Crown should just begin withdrawing charges every time.”
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Just under two weeks ago my brother was driving and was T- boned by a DRUNK/ LOSER / IMPAIRED/MALE driver!! He continues to be in lifesaving serious/ critical condition!! A broken neck/ head trauma and at
a high risk of a blood clot that would kill him..meanwhile the driver was uninjured and arrested at the scene…like I care. He should have died!! This will never stop!! I know way too many families that have lost family members or friends because of these ignorant/ don’t give a …. drivers!!
Mr. Nevill is in need of help. With supports he has a chance to be a contributing member of society. A year or two in jail won’t rehabilitate him but it will probably give his victims some solace. Chances are, under the current penal system, he’ll reoffend. Also, under the current penal system, he’ll learn more ways from fellow inmates to reoffend. It’s a vicious cycle. Sad. Discouraging.
Mr. Neville is clearly a menace. He probably drove disqualified and impaired dozens of times before he was caught the fourth time.
It costs $409 per day to incarcerate someone in Ontario’s prison system. That’s almost $150,000 / year. Maybe a year or two in jail would help this man overcome his alcohol dependency.
Might be money well spent; before he maims are kills someone. It’s not like he’s a contributing member of society.
Faye McKnight: I read your response after I had posted mine. I agree with you. Well said.
Four times driving under the influence – Mr. Nevill needs help, for his sake and for those who are on the road when he is. To be clear, I’m not excusing the behaviour. I am not a Pollyanna. Consequences (or justice or whatever you want to call it) need to happen. He has endangered lives, four times that we know. So far, no one has died at his hands.
But jail time alone, is not the solution. Our penal system is broken. The threat of incarceration probably rarely deters people (so I’ve heard). And, the recidivism rate is high upon release. Moreover, not all perpetrators get consequences; a close relative of ours was killed by a drunk driver. There weren’t any consequences. None.
Effective quality counselling within the penal system and upon release alongside any other free supports need to happen (from what I’ve read). Upon release, free transportation to the appointments, for example, seems prudent and, any other supports needed. Counselling (and other forms of support) is probably cheaper for society and, a more humane way to go. Incarceration is quite costly; it does however, provide some form of solace for the victims’ family and friends. However, the perpetrator gets released and the cycle usually continues.
I am not saying give him a house, free food etc. for the rest of his life.
Keep in mind that we are all products of ‘causes and conditions.’ Everyone grew up (and was born) under different circumstances. We had no choice in the matter. Luck of the draw. Some of us had wonderful support systems. Luck of the draw.
If we adhere to the belief that all humans are inherently ‘good’ how can we not help each other? Mr. Nevill is a son, possibly a brother or nephew or grandson, someone’s friend, or a dad.
Food for thought.
Several things jump out at me.
1. The number of repeat offences while banned for life. Clearly his sentencing has had no positive effect in his behaviour in the past.
2. This gentleman is on social assistance and therefore has limited income. What are we doing to help him get off of social assistance?
3. His attorney repeatedly asks for a lighter sentencing. Why has he not asked for rehab as a sentence?
The man clearly has a substance problem. Why are we not spending the money we are using in repeated court appearances and putting him into rehab. You are just enabling him to repeat by not offering any type of rehab and are putting all other citizens at risk when he gets behind the wheel again. If he is being banned from driving, he could be spending that specific amount of time (one year or possibly more) in rehab. We have a facility within our community. Why is this solution not being used. This needs to be the sentence issued with the goal of helping him.
This would give him a chance to find a job in future (get off of social assistance by becoming sober), and get back on his feet.
Can we not do better?
Another instance of “NON JUSTICE”. If you don’t have the fortitude to do your job, resign.
I would have thought that if you have doubts about reducing the penalty which should be imposed, then, DON’T REDUCE IT. YOU, who is supposed to be enforcing the laws and protecting the public shouldn’t be playing “lets make a deal” to accommodate your lawyer buddies and hence the criminals.
That’s how I see it.
four times drunk driving? Next time he will kill someone.
Lock this guy up before he kills someone’s family.
This guy is a waste of oxygen.