ATHABASCA — A northern Alberta man was convicted in a trial he wasn’t present for after a spring drive left him stuck in the snow last March.
Dylan Campbell-Cote will have to fork out $3,000 for a driving with no insurance conviction he received in Athabasca Court of Justice Dec. 9.
Justice Joanne Heudes handed down the fine after an ex-parte trial — one conducted in the absence of an affected party — that saw a local police officer recount the incident in question.
Const. Bradley Chaput testified on March 1, 2023, he was conducting road patrols in a unmarked police Tahoe on Hwy 55 in the town limits when he saw one truck stuck in the ditch and another attempting to pull it out.
Chaput said he approached the driver of the stuck truck, who was unable to provide identification or paperwork related to the vehicle. Chaput identified Campbell-Cote as the driver through a photo in the police database, and noted the B.C. licence plate had been listed as inactive since 2020.
Campbell-Cote will have until March 31, 2025, to pay the $3,000 fine. No licence suspension was sought by the Crown.