You will lose it all, judge warns taxi drivers caught bootlegging

Cab driver Luis “Tony” Martinez was sentenced this week to 22 days in jail and placed on probation for 12 months for two counts of illegal liquor sales and breach of probation.

Martinez, 52, sold two bottles of vodka on two separate occasions from his Apex home in 2001, the court heard during the trial in October. He charged $160 for a 66-ounce bottle and $110 for a 40-ounce bottle.

The same bottles would cost about $55 and $35 respectively in the South.

Martinez was serving a six-month conditional sentence for assault when he was arrested for bootlegging.

“This is an offence driven by profit and exploits the vulnerabilities of an addict,” Justice Robert Kilpatrick said during sentencing.

“Alcohol destroys lives and families and is a major factor in crime in this jurisdiction. Taxi drivers should understand they are going to lose their job and likely their car [if convicted].”

Martinez is prohibited from driving a taxi for a year. The City of Iqaluit revoked Martinez’s business licence to drive a cab on Nov. 15, a month after his trial. Reinstating the licence is subject to a review by city council once the probationary period is over.

Kilpatrick did not seize the taxi because Martinez owns the vehicle with someone else.

Martinez was granted an intermittent sentence. He will serve his time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, allowing him to continue with a new weekend house cleaning business.

Defence lawyer Euan Mackay expressed concern about his client serving time at Baffin Correctional Centre given Martinez worked as a cook there in 2000.

“I will make the recommendation that every effort be made to protect his privacy,” Kilpatrick said.