Former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace was recently sentenced to serve four months in jail in connection with an August driving under the influence (DUI) arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona. The arrest was purportedly his second DUI offense in 15 months. Although Grace was initially charged with four counts of aggravated DUI, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and felony endangerment. His sentence will reportedly include work-release, use of an ignition interlock device, and three years of supervised probation. The 48-year-old allegedly faced a maximum penalty of 45 months in prison for each count of aggravated DUI.
According to Scottsdale police, blood tests showed Grace had a blood alcohol level of .095. Like Illinois, the legal limit in the State of Arizona is .08. Following his arrest, Grace was reportedly terminated from his position as an Arizona Diamondbacks television broadcaster.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office estimates that 50,000 motorists are taken into custody for DUI in Illinois every year. About 80 percent of those arrested are reportedly first-time DUI offenders. Since 2009, Illinois drivers who are convicted of DUI have the option to have an ignition interlock installed in their car or other vehicle for the period of time during which their operator’s license would normally be suspended. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reportedly supports such laws. NTSB officials recently said ignition interlock devices should be installed in the personal automobile of all persons accused of driving while intoxicated. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman stated she believes such laws may potentially decrease or eliminate what is currently the number one preventable cause of traffic deaths across the nation.
Unfortunately, other motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are placed at risk whenever an impaired driver chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. The injuries that result from a wreck that was caused by an intoxicated driver may be life-threatening or fatal. If you or someone close to you suffered harm in a DUI crash, you are advised to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.
If you were hurt or a family member was killed in a traffic wreck that was caused by a drunk driver, you should give the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596 today. Our knowledgeable Chicago area drunk driving accident attorneys are available 24 hours per day, every day of the week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Our hardworking lawyers have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were injured by an impaired motorist throughout the Chicago Metro. To speak with an experienced car accident attorney today, contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Study Claims Obese Drivers in Illinois and Nationwide are More Likely to Die in Auto Crashes, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 4, 2013
Palatine Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Following DUI Crash While Huffing and Taking Other Drugs, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 1, 2013
Additional Resources:
Mark Grace gets four-month sentence for 2nd DUI, by Laurie Merrill, USA Today
Mark Grace Jail Sentence: Former MLB Player, TV Analyst Gets 4 Months In Prison For DUI, Huffington Post