BARRHEAD - A Barrhead-area man received a hefty fine after pleading guilty to driving without insurance and driving while unauthorized.
Samuel Schiller received a $3,500 fine from Justice Carrie-Ann Downey during an Oct. 22 Barrhead Court of Justice session.
The majority of the fine, $3,000, was for driving without insurance, while $500 was for driving while unauthorized.
noted that both fines included the victim fine surcharge and were also the minimum amounts she could render.
As part of the sentence, Schiller received a six-month driving prohibition.
Crown prosecutor Robert Klein said the offences occurred in Barrhead, at an unspecified location, on Aug. 18, 2024, adding he was not alleging a driving record.
Downey gave Schiller one year to pay the fine as he noted he was currently in between jobs.
If Schiller does not pay the fines by Oct. 21, 2025, he risks potentially 59 days in jail, 45 for driving without insurance and 14 for driving while unauthorized.
Given his circumstances, Downey said Schiller could have difficulty paying the fines by the deadline.
She suggested that if he demonstrated his good faith in meeting his obligation by making payments in installments, the court would be more likely to grant him an extension if needed.
Downey said the accused could reduce his owes by applying to the Alberta Fine Options program, allowing people to work off some of their fines.
Heavy load
Downey also fined Enrique Peters $488 inclusive of the victim fine surcharge after he pleaded guilty to a lesser offence under Alberta's Traffic Safety Act: operating a commercial vehicle on a highway when the vehicle's weight exceeds the maximum allowable specified in a permit issued for that vehicle.
He risks four days in jail if he does not pay the fine by Oct. 29.
Speeding
Saleem Habeeb Hammoud also received a $126 fine for exceeding the maximum speed limit by 15 km/h on May 31. Downey gave him until Nov. 12 to pay the fine.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com