A Sarnia police officer was fined $1,500 in court Tuesday after pleading guilty to careless driving and failing to report an accident.

Const. Jeff Michael Simm, 35, was off duty when his erratic driving in Sarnia was reported to police at approximately 5 a.m. Dec. 1, 2013.

Simm’s speeding vehicle was seen swerving prior to the collision. The vehicle had struck the curbs and had briefly swerved into the wrong lane.

Simm ran from the scene at the corner of Colborne Road and Michigan Avenue, where his pick-up truck had struck and knocked down two traffic signal light poles causing $21,000 damage.

The truck was found, damaged and abandoned, on Colborne Road, about 400 metres from the intersection.

Simm’s insurance company will cover the damage, the court was told.

In an interview with police the following day, Simm admitted he had been drinking but stated he was not impaired. Simm told investigators his erratic driving was due to an ongoing cellphone call.

Checking the records for a phone found in his truck confirmed there was a call underway for several minutes while he was driving.

A check of the truck’s data recorder confirmed his speed prior to the collision was 91 kilometres per hour on the city street and he had been braking as the collision occurred.

Simm’s driving was potentially dangerous but the limited traffic at the time reduced the danger, said Justice Jonathon George.

The $1,500 fine for the Highway Traffic Act offences was a joint submission by Crown and defence lawyers.

Thankfully Simm’s abhorrent driving injured no one, said assistant Crown attorney Melody Martin.

The consequences for Simm will far exceed what the court imposes, said defence lawyer James Guggisberg.

An investigation under the Police Services Act is underway. Simm will continue his police duties and was never suspended.

Simm is ashamed of his actions and was forthright in his statement to investigators, said Guggisberg.

Simm has accepted responsibility for his actions, which hopefully all officers would do, said Deputy Police Chief Bob Farlow.

neil.bowen@sunmedia.ca