In a recent ruling, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon rejected the appeal of a third-time drink-driving offender seeking a reduction of his lifetime driving ban.
The offender, Mr. Lee Shin Nan, argued that he felt pressured to move his car after an altercation with the owner of another vehicle blocked by his, according to The Straits Times.
Chief Justice Menon upheld the initial sentence of eight weeks’ jail, a $10,000 fine, and a lifetime driving ban imposed by a district judge.
Background of the Case
Mr. Lee Shin Nan, a 45-year-old individual, faced his third drink-driving conviction in June 2022. The incident occurred when he, after consuming four glasses of beer at a coffee shop along Serangoon Road, received a call to move his vehicle, leading him to drive to the nearest car park. However, he was stopped at a police roadblock on Petain Road, subsequently failing a breathalyser test. The test revealed 89 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, well above the prescribed limit of 35mcg.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Mr. Lee pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge on March 16, 2023, and received a sentence of eight weeks’ jail, a $10,000 fine, and a lifetime driving ban. Chief Justice Menon dismissed Mr. Lee’s appeal, asserting that the act of moving his car, even under pressure, did not constitute a “special reason” justifying a reduction of the lifetime disqualification.
Chief Justice’s Rationale
In his written grounds issued on Dec 18, Chief Justice Menon explained his decision, emphasizing the dangerous and irresponsible nature of Mr. Lee’s decision to drive after consuming alcohol, especially considering his prior drink-driving convictions. The Chief Justice deemed the desire to avoid unpleasant encounters insufficient justification for the reduction of the disqualification.
Sentencing Guidelines for Repeat Drink-Driving Offences
Chief Justice Menon also took the opportunity to set out sentencing guidelines for repeat drink-driving offences. Following the 2019 amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which doubled the maximum punishment for such offences, the guidelines provide a framework comprising four sentencing bands for fines and disqualification periods based on the repeat offender’s alcohol level.