An Arlington Heights man pleaded guilty Thursday to drunken driving — his sixth conviction since 1983 — and was sentenced to 6 years in prison under a relatively new state law that its sponsor says is starting to have an impact.
“I’ve had people call me who have been active in the fight and say, ‘Prosecutors are finally saying enough is enough!'” said state Rep. William Black (R-Danville).
Black sponsored legislation approved in 2005 that allows prosecutors to charge motorists stopped for driving under the influence with a Class X felony if they have five or more previous drunken-driving convictions. The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 years in prison and a maximum of 30.
Steven Salzman, 44, of the 400 block of Forest Drive, was sentenced after pleading guilty at a hearing in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court.
Salzman also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of driving while his license was revoked or suspended. It was his 10th arrest on that charge, authorities said. He will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence.
Salzman was convicted on DUI charges in 1983, 1987, 1990, 1997 and 1999, said Mike Andre, an assistant state’s attorney. His license has been suspended or revoked 10 times since 1986, Andre said.
Earlier this month, a Bensenville man with nine DUI convictions was sentenced in DuPage County to 20 years in prison for drunken driving, and a Hanover Park man was sentenced to 6 years in prison in Cook County after pleading guilty to his seventh drunken-driving charge.
Black said that in recent months, it appears more and more judges and prosecutors have become aware of the law.
“I think society is finally coming around to the viewpoint that if you just continue to drive irresponsibly while intoxicated, the prosecutor should be able to seek a very strict penalty,” he said. “I don’t know what else to do other than say, ‘Mr. Prosecutor, throw the book at them if they won’t clean up their act — if they’re a danger.'”
Salzman was stopped at 3:20 p.m. Feb. 1 by a police officer who thought he was driving erratically at Arlington Heights and Central Roads in Arlington Heights, Andre said. The officer saw Salzman make an illegal left turn, nearly causing a collision, he said.
Salzman began walking away from his green Toyota and the officer had to order him back to his car, Andre said. Salzman told the officer he had drunk three beers, Andre said.
Salzman failed field sobriety tests but refused to take a breath test and was taken into custody, Andre said.
“I’m very sorry,” Salzman said at the hearing Thursday. “I will do everything in my power not to let it happen again.”
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Judge Thomas Fecarotta Jr. was not impressed with the apology.
“I’m dumbfounded by that statement,” Fecarotta said. “How difficult would it be to drink and not drive? Are you going to wait until you kill somebody and have to serve 30 years?”
When Fecarotta asked if he wanted him to recommend treatment for substance abuse in prison, Salzman said yes.
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