A man charged with careless driving has avoided a conviction after paying $4500 reparation.

Man escapes conviction following reparation

James Junior Atera appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday where he entered a guilty plea.

On October 21 he was charged with careless driving.

“I will enter a guilty plea, I paid for the damage, it is my first time,” he told the court.

The police prosecutor said they were in possession of a receipt for reparation payment.

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro said Atera had shown remorse and asked the court not to convict him.

“He did apologise and is remorseful.

“This is his first appearance, he pleaded guilty.

“He is released without conviction and ordered to pay court costs of $50.”

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Lucky to escape serious accident

A man charged with excess breath alcohol and careless driving has been told he must be thanking his lucky stars or God there was not a serious accident on the day of the offence.

Mataio Jim Mare entered a guilty plea to both offences when he appeared in the Criminal Court at Avarua on Thursday.

The court heard he was arrested and charged with drink driving and careless driving on December 18 following an incident in Arorangi.

Police said he crashed a motorcycle when it collided with a road cone.

He received injuries and was taken to hospital where a blood test showed he had an alcohol blood level of 201 mg.

When spoken to, he admitted drinking four bottles of beer and that he didn’t see the road cone.

“Looking at your result, your blood result is very, very high.

“I am sure you are thanking your lucky stars or God there was no serious accident on that day,” Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro told him.

He was convicted and fined $400 for excess blood alcohol, $50 court costs and $150 for the blood test.

Mare was disqualified from driving for 12 months then convicted and fined $50 plus $50 court costs for careless driving.