Excessive speed nets new Barrhead mother large fine

BARRHEAD - A Barrhead woman with a heavy foot will have to pay a hefty fine.

Justice Carrie-Anne Downey handed Saralyn Grace Dening a $1,250 fine after she pleaded guilty to exceeding the maximum speed limit by 63 km/h at Barrhead Court of Justice on Aug. 13, accepting an offer by the Crown.

David Dening made the plea in the absence of his daughter, who recently gave birth.

Dening has until Aug. 27 to pay the fine. If she does not pay by the deadline, she could spend 10 days in jail.

Dening initially appeared before Downey on July 23 to discuss the charge, but she asked for an adjournment to learn whether, by pleading guilty, she would face a potential driving suspension.

Provincial traffic Crown prosecutor R. Rees stated the charge stems from an incident on Highway 18 near Range Road 40 on June 21, 2024.

“I can confirm with 100 per cent certainty that, as the provincial prosecutor, I am not asking for a suspension as she has a good driving record. It will not put her in a demerit suspension,” she said. “The only way this would result in a suspension is if she accumulates more tickets, which would result in a demerit suspension. There is no provincially mandated suspension for speed unless I ask for it.”

Exceeding the maximum speed limit

Kayla Lea Sound also received a $226 fine after admitting to exceeding the maximum speed limit as part of a joint submission by the Crown and defence.

The Crown withdrew two additional charges of failure to produce registration and proof of insurance upon demand.

Justice Downey gave Sound until Feb.11, 2025, to pay the fine.

Rees said on April 18, 2024, on Highway 33 in the Big Lakes area, the accused was charged with going 127 km/h in a 100 km/zone.

Defence lawyer David Hall asked that his client be given six months to pay the fine, noting his client has other outstanding traffic fines from a previous conviction. 

In June, Sound pleaded guilty to excessive speeding on Jan. 31, 2024, when she was clocked going 136 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on Grizzly Trail.

He also noted that his client is a single mother with three children, including a four-month-old infant, who is currently on maternity leave from her job.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com