CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - A 29-year-old man who was unconscious in his vehicle stopped at an intersection in Dartmouth after driving drunk was sentenced recently to 40 days in jail on several charges.
Joe Roddie Clair appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown where he was sentenced for failing the breathalyzer, driving while prohibited, breaching his probation and breaching a recognizance.
The court heard that on July 18, 2016, the police were dispatched to a call about a suspicious vehicle in Dartmouth.
When they pulled up, the police saw Clair with his eyes closed and his head back while the vehicle was running and in park.
It took a sternum rub to wake Clair up.
The court heard that when Clair woke up, he asked why the police pulled him over, to which they responded that he had stopped in the middle of an intersection.
Clair later provided breathalyzer samples that were about twice the legal limit.
At the time, he was under a three-year driving prohibition that started in 2014.
Earlier this year, Clair breached his probation and later a recognizance.
The court heard Clair has since been accepted into the Rising Sun Treatment Centre in Eel Ground, N.B.
Before hearing his sentence, Clair addressed the court to say he apologized for the issues he has been dealing with and brought to Charlottetown.
Clair said it was the first time he has ever reached out to go to inpatient treatment.
He has been in custody since July on unrelated charges.
After sentencing Clair, Orr said she hopes he gets to the Rising Sun Treatment Centre, stays as long as he needs and follows through on whatever he has to do.
Orr also said Clair’s sentence wasn’t as high as it might otherwise have been because of his record, but it allows him to get to the treatment centre.
Clair is banned from driving for two years.
