Driving sch joi boss guilty on tax charges Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com THE co-owner of North Shore Driving School was ordered to pay $32,502.56 in fines on Monday in connec- tion with a tax evasion charge. Josephine Sally Briton, 59, was also sentenced to 12 months’ probation afier being found guilty of pwo charges of tax evasion. Nine other charges were stayed North Shore Driving School was fined $10,000 after being sentenced on one tax evasion charge. Briton, of V Vancouver, was charged in connection with $120,000 of unreported revenue. The charges against Briton and the school related to the unreported income covering a period from 1988 to 1992 and in 1994, Briton’s husband Byron, 64, the co-owner of tf i ving schooi, was acquitted of tax evasion October. On Monday, Crown lawyer Lyndsay Smith asked North Vancouver provincial court Judge Moss to sentence Josephine Briton to a three- to six-month conditional sen- tence in which she was to per- form 100 hours of community work service. Smith suggested that a $34,000 fine would also be appropriate. “This was a prol scheme of tax ev was a denial of the of QUosephine Briton) when con- fronted by (Revenue Canada auditor Christina) Mao and also a judicial denial in this court,” said Smith. Smith added that there was no indication that Josephine Briton had been deterred. charges in against the driving school of Transit meeting moves THE Greater Vancouver Regional District has relocat- ed the first of cight public consultation sessions to be held in fanuary on the issue of regional control over trans- portation systems. Originally scheduled for the North Shore Winter Club, the Jan. 7 session will now be held at the Lonsdale Quay Ballroom, 123 Carrie Cates Court, in’ North Vancouver. Doors open at 6:30 pan., followed by a short nta- tion at 7 p.m. and then sub- missions from delegations. Negotiators for — the province and the GV have about $15,000. Smith called Josephine Briton the “driving force” and “controlling mind” ina planned, prolonged tax eva- sion sckeme. Briton, with the help of the driving school manager Neil Leckhart, withheld cash pay- ments from students especially from the Burnaby division of the North Vancouver-based business. Revenues from the Burnaby division books were not included in the main dri- ving school books as part of the tax evasion scheme. Lockhart left the driving school in 1994. He was a key informant in the case. Lockhart and Josephine Briton’s close relationship was questioned extensively during court proceedings. Briton’s lawyer Bob Breivik suggested that probation, 30 to 50 hours of community work service and about $17,000 fine (the amount ot the tax evaded) would be an appropriate sentence. He , that no fine be levied st the driving school. k said his client had sTreme stress for nwo the charges were laid. Josephine Briton pleaded not guilty to the ves. The trial took about 10 days, main Wv in April. He said the Britons had ady paid $254,000 in a civil assessment relating to their income tax problems. The detence lawyer said that News stories of the public trial had caused “perhaps the Standing Gas Fireplaces Warming homes since 1890 iComfort. “Way to go Darrell another Valor!” ¢ FREE estimates ¢ Showroom hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm homeworks FINANCING PLAN NOVA HEATING & Sheet Metal Ltd. Serving the North Shcre for over 52 years. 4663 West 3rd St, N. Van 988-3922| 0-50% On All Footwear Sale Starts December 26 Most important non-financial impact™ on Josephine Briton and her family. He said the reports did not deal with the substance of the case, but emphasized on the “perhaps newsworthy relation ship with the intormant (hockhart).” Rreivik said Josephine Briton had experienced) pro- found embarrassment, dis- wrace and bumiliati Judze Doug Moss acknowledge Breivik’s points about the news stories and added that publications of trial proceedings are usually viewed by him asa service to the com- munity. Q: busload of passengers takes 40 vehicles off the road, saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids 9 tonnes : of air pollutants o yeor. Try transit! Leslie Gallon, Dr! Dick Beard and staff wish all our patien Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing vou in 1998! Mon-Fri 8:00-3:00 pm Suite 400 - 1200 Lonsdale A N. Van. Deo.26,BOXING DAY HOURS ALL STORES': 10am ie 3pm, Dec.27 ae 28 Regular Hous Aoply to All Stores (Exception BAY VANCOUVER: Boving Day am 6pm / Dec.2? 8:30am - “Spm Deed Ham - oe < FABRICLUB fe tt ME: EMBERS -: produced a recommended agreement that provides for the establishment of a region- al authority, responsible for “N te transportation. ; A. NORTH VANCOUVER * Maple Ridge, 7 . 4 a aa “oe 3 To sign up as a delegate aw : is i: cn St, 980-055 a call 432-6339. ; es 127 ie eT 3066-120. 99-8226 npl ity Limit 10/customer 98¢/ea. * Langley, —= yidaaorsck Or.5334805 See + Abbotsford 553-0067 32838 Ventura Ave. 053-3366 + Chilliwack 46145 Yale Ad, 792-3376 . Downtown Vancouver, Coquitlam, 3th. Floor, the Bay. 689-2118 2773 3a eH