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Snowmobile operator fined

A snowmobile operator arrested after running over another man has been fined and lost his driver’s licence after pleading guilty on Tuesday to operating a motor vehicle with elevated levels of alcohol in his bloodstream.

A snowmobile operator arrested after running over another man has been fined and lost his driver’s licence after pleading guilty on Tuesday to operating a motor vehicle with elevated levels of alcohol in his bloodstream.

Police were called on Feb. 17 after a man who had been operating a quad in a field near Rocky Mountain House was run over by the snowmobile that had been following him.

Charles Hainsworth, 33, was scheduled for trial in Rocky on Tuesday on charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving while over .08 causing bodily harm.

Hainsworth pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of driving while over .08.

He was fined $1,200 and his operator’s licence was suspended for one year.

Hainsworth may be able to get back behind the wheel before his suspension expires, however, based on the judge’s recommendation that he be allowed to apply for the ignition interlock program after three months.

The ignition interlock device requires that a driver give a breath sample before the vehicle will start.

The Alberta Transportation Safety Board will have the final say on whether Hainsworth will be allowed to use the device.

If approved, he is not allowed to drive any vehicle other than the one that has been set up for him.