Man gets 2 years for DUI while testing car repairs

There's no law against an intoxicated man repairing his car. But he can't test out his handiwork, at least not while he's still intoxicated.

That's driving under the influence, the charge William Spence received last September after a Streamwood police officer stopped him near his home on the 100 block of S. Maxon Lane in Streamwood.

Spence was testing out the brakes he had just repaired when the officer stopped him for a traffic violation. Detecting a strong odor of alcohol on Spence's breath, the officer arrested him for drunken driving.

On Thursday, the 47-year-old pled guilty and was sentenced by Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

"You're allowed to drink yourself into oblivion, but when you get behind the wheel, you put everyone at risk," said Fecarotta as he imposed the sentence, which included an order that Spence undergo treatment for alcoholism while in prison.

The arrest marked the fourth time Spence has been charged with a DUI, but it was his first felony conviction, said Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber.

Spence received his sentence surrounded by two brothers and his fiance and expressed remorse for his actions.

"It's more than fair," he said.