Scott Mackenzie caught the eye of Ontario Provincial Police officers patrolling the Trans-Canada highway north of Sault Ste. Marie earlier this year.
It was shortly before 11 a.m. on Feb. 24, and he was travelling along a portion of Highway 17 in Goulais River that was closed due to weather conditions.
When the cops attempted to stop him just north of Highway 552, he initially pulled over – then fled, a judge heard Thursday.
Mackenzie, 49, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of stolen licence plates, failing to stop when pursued by police and refusing to provide a breath sample.
Prosecutor Chris Thompson said the accused, who was behind the wheel of a black four-door Honda that had no front licence plate, had stopped, and then made a U-turn.
He headed east along Highway 556 towards Searchmont.
Officers activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
Mackenzie swerved into the westbound lane a number of times, the assistant Crown attorney told Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn.
"At times he was completely In that lane and several vehicles had to move out of the lane."
Mackenzie was eventually stopped on Highway 556, west of Searchmont, and was taken into custody, Thompson said.
He was transported to the OPP detachment in the Sault, where he refused to provide a breath sample.
Officers learned the licence plates had been stolen in Toronto and didn't belong on that vehicle.
The Crown and defence lawyer Jessica Belisle jointly recommended a sentence of time served – the equivalent of 80 days, plus a 12-month driving prohibition.
Thompson described the accused's driving as "extremely dangerous," forcing a number of other motorists to take evasive actions.
He called the proposed sentence "fit and appropriate," noting the accused has "a very, very dated minimal criminal record."
Belisle said her client had been participating in counselling to deal with some issues.
Mackenzie had a relapse and that's why he was driving in that manner.
"He is remorseful" and "has no good reason for his driving," she told Dunn.
"He won't be released from custody today because he has other charges in another jurisdiction," the defence added.
"I apologize for my actions," Mackenzie said. "I'm embarrassed and sorry."
When she imposed the sentence, Dunn also called his "driving extremely dangerous."
The judge indicated she had "no hesitation in going along with the joint position."
Mackenzie entered early pleas, "was taking active steps towards sobriety and had suffered a relapse," she said.