A 51-year-old man pulled over during a routine traffic stop in Didsbury in 2009 has been fined $2,300.The accused was scheduled to go to trial in Didsbury provincial court on Wednesday on charges of impaired operation and refusing to provide a breath sample, but changed his plea to the lesser charge of careless driving under the Traffic Safety Act.The accused was pulled over on Sept. 18, 2009 after an RCMP member noticed the man's vehicle had a burned-out headlight and no tail lights, court heard.The accused had been drinking alcohol prior to being pulled over, leading to the original charge of impaired driving and refusal.Prosecutor Deven Singhal did not tell Judge Patrick McIlhargey why the Crown allowed the accused to plead to the lesser charge in exchange for the Criminal Code charges being withdrawn.The judge agreed to a joint submission from Crown and defence for a $2,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the TSA, as well as a $300 victim fine surcharge.The Crown did not seek a licence suspension for the accused, Dean Benovie, 51.ìYou are too old to be doing this kind of thing,î the judge told Benovie.
