Jail term for Keremeos woman for driving while prohibited

PENTICTON – A Keremeos woman will spend a month and a half behind bars after pleading guilty to driving infractions in court today.

Joyce Fern Dianne Terbasket faced sentencing in Penticton court this morning, March 6, after entering guilty pleas to two counts of driving while prohibited.

The two infractions took place in Keremeos and Osoyoos, Crown Prosecutor Kurt Froehlich told court.

On May 10, 2016, a Keremeos police officer noticed Terbasket climb into the drivers seat of a Chevy Cavalier at a Keremeos business.

Knowing her to be a suspended driver, the officer initiated a traffic stop and verified her status as a prohibited driver.

Terbasket was arrested and released on a promise to appear. The vehicle she was driving was impounded.

On Nov. 5, 2016, police in Osoyoos attended a report of an intoxicated driver involved in a single-vehicle collision at Highway 3 and Observatory Road.

They arrived to find Terbasket outside of a Pontiac Firefly that was parked on the side of the road with significant damage.

The officer noticed Terbasket exhibited slurred speech, was unsteady on her feet and smelled of alcohol.

She was arrested for impaired driving and given a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition.

Froehlich noted Terbasket had a “significant driving record” for alcohol-related offences, asking Judge Gregory Koturbash to consider a joint submission that recommended a 45-day jail term and three-year driving prohibition for Terbasket.

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell said his 52-year-old client was single and had lived on her own since the age of 12.

She is presently staying with relatives after her house burned down in August last year.

“She’s always earned her keep and has never taken welfare,” Maxwell said.

He said Terbasket had issues with drinking and was on the waiting list for Round Lake to undergo rehabilitation.

“She’s not proud of this. She’s here to face the music,” Maxwell said.

Judge Koturbash agreed to the joint submission, imposing a sentence of 45 days’ jail time in addition to a three year driving prohibition.

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