Hal Clayton hasn't had a driver's licence for more than 30 years but that hasn't stopped him from getting behind the wheel.
Last week, he was in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom, where he pleaded guilty to seven offences, four stemming from his actions on Dec. 10, 2022 as he sped along the highway north of here.
Clayton, 51, was convicted of fraudulent impersonation to avoid arrest and three driving offences.
An Ontario Provincial Police officer stopped a 2012 Chevy Silverado in Aweres Township at 4:50 p.m.
The court heard the driver told the cop he had left his licence at home.
"He said he lived in the United States and only spent six months a year in Canada," prosecutor Trent Wilson said, adding he also identified himself with another name.
The OPP gave him a day to provide them with his U.S. licence and insurance.
Meanwhile, police learned the man’s true identity and that he was a suspended driver, the assistant Crown attorney told Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn.
In addition to the Criminal Code offence, Clayton pleaded guilty to a Provincial Offences Act charge for driving 136 km/h in a 90-kilometre zone.
As well, he was convicted of a Highway Traffic Act charge for driving while suspended and a further offence for not having an insurance card for the vehicle.
Clayton also missed two court dates last year and failed to comply with a reporting condition in his probation order.
Wilson outlined a number of proposed financial penalties totalling $1,650 for the driving offences, plus a time-served sentence for the Criminal Code offences.
The accused "hasn't had a licence for over three decades, and knew he shouldn't have been driving when he was lying to the officer," the prosecutor said.
Defence lawyer Don Orazietti told the court his client "would like to see this all cleared up."
Instead of the fines, he suggested time-served sentences for the driving offences as well — and the Crown agreed to this.
Dunn accepted the lawyers' joint position, imposing one-day time served, 60 days enhanced to 90 days, for the time he's been in jail.
Clayton remains in custody on another matter.