A Prince George man was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in jail for dangerous driving and is also prohibited from driving for three years for fleeing from a police officer.
Nathen Tayler, 43, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously on Highway 16 on March 11, 2015.
"I have looked at the facts and determined that on that day, Mr. Tayler's conduct endangered members of the public," said Judge Randall William Callan.
"His actions along with excessive speed and a dangerous U-turn, could have resulted in death or serious injury."
The incident began when Tayler met a couple in another vehicle at the Petro-Canada Gas Station on Highway 16 just out of Prince George.
Both vehicles left the gas station at 4:30 p.m., with Tayler chasing the couple because of money that was owed to him.
Tayler was observed by an RCMP officer who said that the accused was driving between 130 and 140 km/h while traveling west on Highway 16.
The constable tried to intercept and said that the accused then reached a speed limit of 150 km/h. Once pulled over, Tayler stopped his vehicle abruptly and the constable said both vehicles were stopped on a hill crest on Norman Road Tayler suddenly turned his vehicle around and proceeded east on Highway 16. He was seen traveling at an accelerated high speed with a police cruiser in pursuit.
Because of the increased danger, the officer decided to call off the chase after witnessing two other vehicles pull over.
"The key to this case is based on what the constable observed," said Crown prosecutor Tyler Bauman.
"Mr. Tayler was speeding and the constable observed speed limits of 140-150 km/h. He accelerated and exposed the public to extreme danger and he has a record of this. It's a matter of luck that he didn't kill anyone."
Crown was seeking a sentence of 36 months in jail with a three-year driving prohibition.
Defence counsel Fred Fatt thought this too harsh a sentence, despite Tayler's lengthy driving record which included 14 driving offences including four dangerous driving convictions.
"Luck is based on odds," Fatt said. "But the odds aren't the same here. This isn't Chilliwack or downtown Vancouver where the odds are greater. This is a county road and in a rural setting."
Fatt also wanted to make clear to the court, that despite Tayler's extensive record, he was not convicted of any criminal offence since 2009.
"This should be considered," Fatt said.
"Your honour should consider his rehabilitation efforts since. Mr. Tayler made some quick and bad choices here. He didn't wake up that morning and say 'I'm going to commit a crime.' A situation arose, and he made a quick decision with bad consequences. It was a spontaneous decision."
Fatt also outlined Tayler's rough upbringing of living on the streets and in group homes since childhood and his ongoing struggle with a brain injury.
Bauman was quick to refute by saying this was not instantaneous.
The chase took place from Beaverly to Norman Road, which led to a police pursuit on one of the busiest highways in the region.
"This was a long chase," Bauman said.
"He's 43 now and 41 when this occurred. This is not impulsivity of youth here. He's learned little and is a threat to the public."
Bauman also said Tayler was a even a greater menace with a history of breaching court orders and driving without insurance, which means a lack of respect for the criminal justice system.
"He fails to have insight to see the danger he's putting the public in. It's that absence of insight that is paramount," Bauman said.
Taylor's sentence of 30 months will be credited 130 days for time already served, resulting in a remaining jail sentence of 25 months and 20 days still to be served.
He was also sentenced to 24 months for fleeing from a peace officer and 45 days for breach of undertaking and recognizance, both of which are to be served concurrently with the prior sentence.
