Quebec man convicted of his 24th drunk driving offence

[jar_e]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/02/22...anadian-record

In what's believed to be a Canadian record, a 67-year-old Quebec man was convicted Tuesday of his 24th drunk-driving offence.

Yvon Gingras of St-Ubalde, Que., was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to impaired driving, breach of conditions and refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test.

Gingras bought a car despite a driving ban. Outraged neighbours, aware of his prior convictions, formed a committee to track his movements.

Gingras has a lengthy and diverse criminal record dating back to 1965. He has been convicted of 24 counts of driving while intoxicated, seven for violating a driving ban and five counts of refusing a breathalyzer test.

He also has 25 convictions for theft, four for assault and threats along with seven convictions for violating court orders.

Gingras has never agreed to enter rehab.

I'm glad Alberta's 0.05-0.08 legislation will prevent offenders like this from ever committing....

[burn_this_city]

That guy almost deserves dangerous offender status.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

That guy almost deserves dangerous offender status.

Why do you say almost...?

[troutman]

Guy Lafleur?

[MoneyGuy]

He is a dangerous offender. Get him off the road.

I'd care less about this if Quebec separated.

[Ben_in_Canada]

How was this guy even allowed out in public??

Gingras has a lengthy and diverse criminal record dating back to 1965. He has been convicted of 24 counts of driving while intoxicated, seven for violating a driving ban and five counts of refusing a breathalyzer test.
He also has 25 convictions for theft, four for assault and threats along with seven convictions for violating court orders.

[Lt.Spears]

Khabibulin moved to Quebec?

[CaptainCrunch]

See this is what bugs me. The key argument in the justice system is about rehabilitation versus punishment versus public safety, and I get it, I do. There are some people out there that deserve a second chance or maybe even a third chance.

But I've read multiple stories even over the last year about people with "Lengthy records" committing crimes.

At the end of the day, I think the foremost consideration does have to be public safety. There's no way this guy should have had the chances that he's had. Maybe we need to bring back prison work farms or programs, lock this guy up for as long as you can and make him work off his debt to society.

But I doubt 6 years, that will probably reduce to 2 years is going to deter this creep.

[Locke]

You almost have to admire his determination. He really likes drinking and driving.

Maybe what this man goes to prove is that drinking and driving really isnt as dangerous as spouted propaganda would have you believe, look at this guy, hes been drinking and driving for probably around half a century and he hasnt hurt a single person.

/Devil's Advocate

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Locke

You almost have to admire his determination. He really likes drinking and driving.

Maybe what this man goes to prove is that drinking and driving really isnt as dangerous as spouted propaganda would have you believe, look at this guy, hes been drinking and driving for probably around half a century and he hasnt hurt a single person.

/Devil's Advocate

Except for the four people he's assaulted.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Except for the four people he's assaulted.

Did he assault them with a car?

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Locke

Did he assault them with a car?

Well, he probably had to drive to the person before assaulting them I guess.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Locke

Did he assault them with a car?

Maybe. I wasn't there.

[Rubicant]

He's a few drunk driving offences away from establishing it as a pattern of behaviour.

[squiggs96]

One more and he gets silver.

[browna]

Its Quebec and likely got caught by sticking out as being one of the ones under the speed limit.

Plus, if old Social Studies books with pictures and words around the FLQ crisis and Quebec separatist politics, and the general mood in Quebec at the time, were correct, operating a vehicle without a DuMaurier in one hand an a "50" in the other between 1965-1981 was completely common place.

[CaramonLS]

[T@T]

Crazy thing about cases like this is if you go back 40 years just about every man would have been far worst then him if they got caught or the cops cared (the drinking and driving part). My dad drove pissed out of his marbles 4 or 5 days a week for 30-40 years, and as crazy as that sounds whats crazier is he never even put a scratch on a car.