A magistrate has given a Hamilton Parish man until the end of next year to pay a $4,900 fine accrued in several traffic violations.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis told Dean Sinclair Burgess the country takes a dim view of drunk driving, riding without insurance, and other violations.

But Mr. Francis took pity on Burgess when he said it would take a year for him to pay the huge fine.

Burgess, 37, of Claytown Estates, was banned from driving all motor vehicles for three years after he admitted two drunk driving offences just a year-and-a-half after being convicted of the same offence.

Burgess, a construction worker, admitted to drunk driving last October 19 and on Monday for which he was fined a total of $1,800.

Mr. Francis handed down the two concurrent driving bans from all motor vehicles, saying the law did not give him any discretion when sentencing.

Burgess was also fined $200 for assaulting a Police officer, $200 for violently resisting arrest, and a total of $1,300 for having no driver's licence, and an uninsured and unlicensed motorcycle on October 19.

For riding an unlicensed, uninsured cycle with defective brakes and without lights on Monday, all while he did not have a valid licence, Burgess was fined $1,150.

He also admitted to speeding on a motorcycle on December 28 on Kindley Field Road, for which he was fined $250.

In the October incident, Burgess was stopped by Police on Front Street after they noted his erratic driving.

Burgess fought with Police when he was arrested, assaulting an officer in the process.

On Monday, he was chased by Police from Crawl Hill westward on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish at speeds of more than 80 kph.

As in the October incident, when stopped by Police they noted his breath smelled of alcohol, he was unsteady on his feet, and his speech was slurred.

Mr. Francis told Burgess: "You've got to get hold of yourself. When you're drinking, you've got to stay away from vehicles. It can completely change a person.''