People v. Rowell , 2020 IL App (4th) 190231 ( 2021 )


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    Appellate Court                              Date: 2021.04.07
    12:02:27 -05'00'
    People v. Rowell, 
    2020 IL App (4th) 190231
    Appellate Court    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
    Caption            BRANDY M. ROWELL, Defendant-Appellant.
    District & No.     Fourth District
    No. 4-19-0231
    Filed              April 10, 2020
    Decision Under     Appeal from the Circuit Court of Woodford County, No. 18-DT-43;
    Review             the Hon. Charles M. Feeney III, Judge, presiding.
    Judgment           Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded with directions.
    Counsel on         James E. Chadd, John M. McCarthy, and Sarah Inskeep, of State
    Appeal             Appellate Defender’s Office, of Springfield, for appellant.
    Gregory Minger, State’s Attorney, of Eureka (Patrick Delfino and
    David J. Robinson, of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office,
    of counsel, and Leslie N. Martin, law school graduate), for the People.
    Panel              JUSTICE TURNER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
    Justice Cavanagh concurred in the judgment and opinion.
    Presiding Justice Steigmann dissented, with opinion.
    OPINION
    ¶1        In January 2019, defendant, Brandy M. Rowell, pleaded guilty to driving under the
    influence (DUI) in this case and endangering the life of a child in a companion case. In
    February 2019, the trial court sentenced defendant to 180 days in jail, 24 months of probation,
    200 hours of public service work, and a $1000 fine pursuant to section 11-501(c)(3) of the
    Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)). In March 2019, defendant filed
    a motion to reconsider her sentence. That same month, the trial court conducted a hearing on
    and denied the motion. The court stated section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle Code provides, “if
    a person transports a child, a person under 16, in the vehicle at the time they are driving under
    the influence, they’re subject to six months of imprisonment. They have to serve six months
    of imprisonment.” However, the court added, “I wouldn’t have sentenced the defendant to jail
    if I didn’t think I had to.”
    ¶2        Defendant appeals, arguing the trial court incorrectly interpreted section 11-501(c)(3) of
    the Vehicle Code to require her to serve 180 days in jail. Defendant contends, inter alia, the
    statute’s reference to a 180-day sentence is permissive, not mandatory. In the alternative,
    defendant argues the statute is ambiguous as to the 180-day sentence in section 11-501(c)(3).
    We affirm the finding of guilt but vacate defendant’s sentence and remand this case for a new
    sentencing hearing.
    ¶3                                        I. BACKGROUND
    ¶4       In July 2018, the State charged defendant with driving while having a blood alcohol
    concentration (BAC) in excess of 0.08 (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1) (West 2018)), driving under
    the influence (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2)(West 2018)), and endangering the life or health
    of a child (720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2018)) in a companion case.
    ¶5       In November 2018, defendant appeared in court and waived her right to a jury trial on all
    charges. Prior to accepting her jury waiver, the trial court admonished defendant the DUI was
    a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2500.
    ¶6       In January 2019, defendant entered a plea of guilty to DUI and endangering the life of a
    child in the companion case. Before doing so, the trial court again informed her the DUI charge
    was a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a maximum fine of
    $2500. The court further admonished defendant in accordance with Illinois Supreme Court
    Rule 402 (eff. July 1, 2012) of the various rights she was giving up by pleading guilty.
    ¶7       The State presented the following factual basis for the charge: (1) defendant was behind
    the wheel of a vehicle on the side of the road, (2) she had a two-year-old child unrestrained on
    her lap, (3) she submitted to and failed standardized field sobriety tests, and (4) she submitted
    to a breathalyzer test, which showed her BAC was 0.205. The trial court did not admonish
    defendant her plea of guilty to the aforementioned DUI charge included a mandatory sentence
    of at least six months’ imprisonment. The court accepted defendant’s guilty plea and ordered
    a presentence investigation.
    ¶8       At defendant’s February 2019 sentencing hearing, the trial court considered the
    presentence investigation report. The only evidence presented by the State was a stipulation
    defendant’s BAC at the time of the offense was 0.205.
    -2-
    ¶9         Defendant submitted six character letters and also called Amanda Sluga, a Department of
    Children and Family Services (DCFS) caseworker, who testified she believed defendant would
    comply with any conditions of court supervision the trial court ordered. Defendant testified on
    her own behalf, but the bystander’s report does not summarize her testimony.
    ¶ 10       The State argued defendant should be placed on probation. The State made no
    recommendation for jail time. Defendant asked for court supervision. The trial court sentenced
    defendant to 24 months’ probation, 180 days in jail, 200 hours of public service work, and a
    $1000 fine. The court explained it believed it was required to impose a sentence of six months’
    imprisonment because of section 501(c)(3)’s language, “subject to 6 months of imprisonment.”
    The court delayed the sentencing order for 60 days to provide defendant time to file a motion
    to reconsider sentence and to research the issue.
    ¶ 11       In March 2019, defendant filed a motion to reconsider sentence. In her motion, defendant
    disputed the trial court’s conclusion section 501(c)(3) required a minimum six-month sentence
    in this case. At a hearing later that month, the court denied defendant’s motion but stated it
    “would not have sentenced her to jail” absent the statutory requirement. The court stayed the
    sentencing order until May 1, 2020, to afford defendant an opportunity to appeal before serving
    her sentence.
    ¶ 12       This appeal followed.
    ¶ 13                                           II. ANALYSIS
    ¶ 14       Defendant appeals, arguing the trial court erred by finding section 11-501(c)(3) of the
    Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)) required her to serve a minimum of 180
    days’ imprisonment. Defendant argues the plain language of the statute is permissive rather
    than mandatory, noting section 11-501(c)(3) lacks words like “mandatory” or “shall” with
    regard to the six months of imprisonment, which are included elsewhere in section 11-501. In
    the alternative, defendant argues the statute is ambiguous and the rule of lenity should govern
    the outcome. Because this case involves a question of statutory interpretation, our review is
    de novo. People v. Witherspoon, 
    2019 IL 123092
    , ¶ 20, 
    129 N.E.3d 1208
    .
    ¶ 15       At issue in this case is section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3)
    (West 2018)), which states: “A person who violates subsection (a) is subject to 6 months of
    imprisonment, an additional mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, and 25 days of community
    service in a program benefiting children if the person was transporting a person under the age
    of 16 at the time of the violation.” The question we must answer is whether the legislature
    intended section 11-501(c)(3) to require a trial court to impose a minimum of six months’
    imprisonment as part of defendant’s sentence.
    ¶ 16       The best way to determine the legislature’s intent is to give the statutory language its plain
    and ordinary meaning. Witherspoon, 
    2019 IL 123092
    , ¶ 21. Where statutory language is clear
    and unambiguous, courts should apply the statute as written. People v. Eppinger, 
    2013 IL 114121
    , ¶ 21, 
    984 N.E.2d 475
    . When trying to determine legislative intent, a statute should not
    be viewed “in isolation but [rather] as a whole, construing words and phrases in light of other
    relevant statutory provisions.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Marriage of Kasprzyk,
    
    2019 IL App (4th) 170838
    , ¶ 27, 
    128 N.E.3d 1105
    . Further, statutes should be read as a whole
    and construed so no part of the text is rendered meaningless or superfluous. People v. Lloyd,
    
    2013 IL 113510
    , ¶ 25, 
    987 N.E.2d 386
    .
    -3-
    ¶ 17       When the language of a statutory provision is susceptible to more than one reasonable
    interpretation the court may look to additional sources to determine legislative intent. People
    ex rel. Department of Professional Regulation v. Manos, 
    202 Ill. 2d 563
    , 571, 
    782 N.E.2d 237
    ,
    242 (2002). “Such sources include the maxim of in pari materia, under which two statutes, or
    two parts of one statute, concerning the same subject must be considered together in order to
    produce a ‘harmonious whole.’ ” People v. Rinehart, 
    2012 IL 111719
    , ¶ 26, 
    962 N.E.2d 444
    (quoting Sulser v. Country Mutual Insurance Co., 
    147 Ill. 2d 548
    , 555, 
    591 N.E.2d 427
    , 429
    (1992)). Moreover, “[w]ords and phrases should be construed, not in isolation, but in light of
    other relevant provisions.” Rinehart, 
    2012 IL 111719
    , ¶ 26 (citing People v. Beachem, 
    229 Ill. 2d 237
    , 243, 
    800 N.E.2d 515
    , 519 (2008)).
    ¶ 18       In this case, both parties turn to the dictionary as an aid to resolve the meaning of the word
    “subject” as it pertains to the phrase “subject to.” We note this phrase is not defined in the
    statute. “When a statutory term is undefined we assume the legislature intended the word to
    have its ordinary and popularly understood meaning and that we may ascertain this meaning
    through the use of contemporary dictionaries.” Witherspoon, 
    2019 IL 123092
    , ¶ 21. In our
    view, the various definitions cited by the parties could support either an interpretation the 6
    months of imprisonment is mandatory or permissive. For example, Black’s Law Dictionary
    defines “subject,” in relevant part, as follows:
    “2. Exposed, liable, or prone . 3.
    Dependent on or exposed to (some contingency); esp., being under discretionary
    authority .” Black’s Law Dictionary (11th
    ed. 2019).
    The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “subject to” as follows: (1) “affected by or
    possibly affected by (something),” (2) “likely to do, have, or suffer from (something),” and
    (3) “dependent on something else to happen or be true.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,
    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subject%20to (last visited Apr. 6, 2020)
    [https://perma.cc/WX35-DVL2]. Although not argued by defendant, we note the dictionary
    definitions also support an interpretation the offender is subject to a maximum of six months
    of imprisonment.
    ¶ 19       Defendant next argues neither the term “mandatory” nor “shall” is used in conjunction with
    the language “subject to 6 months of imprisonment,” in section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle
    Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)), whereas “mandatory” and/or “shall” are
    employed by the legislature in other subsections when a penalty is required. We note the
    legislature even used the word “mandatory” in section 11-501(c)(3) with regard to a minimum
    fine of $1000.
    ¶ 20       According to defendant, the inclusion of the terms “mandatory” and “shall” in other
    statutory subsections would be superfluous if they are unnecessary to convey what penalties
    are required. According to our supreme court, “[w]hen the legislature uses certain language in
    one part of a statute and different language in another, we may assume different meanings were
    intended.” People v. Hudson, 
    228 Ill. 2d 181
    , 193, 
    886 N.E.2d 964
    , 972 (2008).
    ¶ 21       The State counters defendant already faced the possibility of being sentenced to 364 days
    in jail, for a Class A misdemeanor conviction. Thus, the phrase “is subject to 6 months of
    imprisonment” would be entirely superfluous unless it is interpreted to require 6 months of
    incarceration. While this argument has appeal, we are reluctant to insert the word “mandatory”
    into the statute where it does not exist.
    -4-
    ¶ 22       As noted earlier, section 11-501(c)(3) does specifically state a $1000 fine is mandatory,
    but it does not specifically state a six-month term of imprisonment is mandatory. Moreover,
    subsections surrounding section 11-501(c)(3) use the term “mandatory” in referring to fines,
    minimum days of imprisonment, and hours of community service that must be imposed. For
    example, section 11-501(c)(2) provides a second-time offender “shall be sentenced to a
    mandatory minimum term of either 5 days of imprisonment or 240 hours of community
    service.” 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(2) (West 2018). Additionally, section 11-501(c)(4) provides
    an offender having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more shall be subject to “a
    mandatory minimum of 100 hours of community service and a mandatory minimum fine.” 625
    ILCS 5/11-501(c)(4) (West 2018). Similarly, section 11-501(c)(5) provides for “a mandatory
    minimum of 2 days of imprisonment and a mandatory minimum fine” for certain second-time
    offenders. 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(5) (West 2018). Thus, it is readily apparent the legislature
    has demonstrated its ability to express when penalties are mandatory, including mandatory
    minimum sentences of imprisonment.
    ¶ 23       Because section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018))
    remains ambiguous after considering the ordinarily understood meaning of its language and
    after looking to additional sources, we may also consider a statute’s legislative history and
    debates as important aids to determine legislative intent. See Krohe v. City of Bloomington,
    
    204 Ill. 2d 392
    , 398, 
    789 N.E.2d 1211
    , 1214 (2003). However, the supreme court has also
    cautioned against the pitfalls of relying upon “a snippet” of legislative debates. People v. Falbe,
    
    189 Ill. 2d 635
    , 646, 
    727 N.E.2d 200
    , 207 (2000).
    ¶ 24       The State maintains the legislative history of the statute supports its interpretation.
    According to the State, Public Act 94-110 (eff. Jan. 1, 2006) was the genesis for legislating
    into law a six-month mandatory minimum sentence for offenders like defendant. The State
    argues the bill’s sponsor, during floor debate in the House of Representatives, clarified the
    legislation was intended to mandate a minimum six-month period of incarceration due to the
    seriousness of the offense.
    ¶ 25       Public Act 94-110 amended section 11-501 of the Vehicle Code, as it pertains to this
    appeal, to read as follows:
    “(c-5) Except as provided in subsection (c-5.1), a person 21 years of age or older
    who violates subsection (a), if the person was transporting a person under the age of 16
    at the time of the violation, is subject to 6 months of imprisonment, an additional
    mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, and 25 days of community service in a program
    benefiting children. The imprisonment or assignment of community service under this
    subsection (c-5) is not subject to suspension, nor is the person eligible for a reduced
    sentence.
    (c-5.1) A person 21 years of age or older who is convicted of violating subsection
    (a) of this Section a first time and who in committing that violation was involved in a
    motor vehicle accident that resulted in bodily harm to the child under the age of 16
    being transported by the person, if the violation was the proximate cause of the injury,
    is guilty of a Class 4 felony and is subject to one year of imprisonment, a mandatory
    fine of $2,500, and 25 days of community service in a program benefiting children. The
    imprisonment or assignment to community service under this subsection (c-5.1) shall
    not be subject to suspension, nor shall the person be eligible for probation in order to
    -5-
    reduce the sentence or assignment.” Pub. Act 94-110 (eff. Jan. 1, 2006) (amending 625
    ILCS 5/11-501(c-5), (c-5.1))
    ¶ 26        Section 11-501(c-5) of the Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c-5) (West 2006)) as
    amended by Public Act 94-110 (eff. Jan. 1, 2006) is now codified in section 11-501(c)(3) of
    the Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)). However, section 11-501(c)(3) now
    applies to all offenders, not just those 21 years of age or over. We also note the legislature has
    made many additional amendments to section 501 of the Vehicle Code since the passage of
    Public Act 94-110 (eff. Jan. 1, 2006). Thus, we question whether statements made during
    legislative proceedings pertaining to Public Act 94-110 have any meaningful value in
    interpreting the version of section 11-501(c)(3) in effect in 2018. Further, we also note
    individuals currently convicted of more serious offenses are not required to serve mandatory
    periods of imprisonment. Pursuant to section 11-501(d)(1)(J) and section 11-501(d)(2)(A) of
    the Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(J), (d)(2)(A) (West 2018)), an offender who is
    involved in an accident that results in bodily harm—but not great bodily harm—to a child
    under the age of 16 being transported by the offender commits aggravated driving under the
    influence, a Class 4 felony. However, pursuant to section 11-501(d)(2)(H) of the Vehicle Code
    (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(2)(H) (West 2018)), the offender—although subject to a mandatory
    fine and community service—is not required to serve a period of imprisonment.
    ¶ 27        Thus, under the State’s interpretation of “subject to” as used in section 11-501(c)(3) of the
    Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)), an offender who merely transports a
    child under 16 years of age must serve a mandatory period of incarceration. However, an
    offender who transports a minor under 16 years of age and whose conduct proximately causes
    injury to the minor would be guilty of a Class 4 felony but not mandated to serve any period
    of incarceration. Further, an individual who commits a second violation of section 11-501(a)
    while transporting a person under the age of 16 is guilty of aggravated driving under the
    influence, which is a Class 2 felony (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(K), (d)(2)(I) (West 2018)), is
    not required to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment. This remains true even
    if the child under 16 suffered bodily harm—but not great bodily harm—proximately caused
    by the violation. See 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(2)(I) (West 2018). When section 11-501 of the
    Vehicle Code is read as a whole, the State’s argument section 11-501(c)(3) requires a
    mandatory minimum six-month sentence is questionable.
    ¶ 28        In analyzing section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle Code, we have consulted both legal and
    standard dictionaries and reviewed the various definitions in an effort to determine the meaning
    of the language at issue in this case. We have also considered the normal verbiage employed
    by the legislature when mandating a penalty. Further, this court has sought to avoid an
    interpretation resulting in superfluous language. Finally, we have considered section 11-501
    as a whole, noting the legislature did not require individuals convicted of more serious offenses
    involving the transportation of minors under the age of 16 to serve a mandatory period of
    imprisonment. Having done so, we seriously question whether the legislature intended to
    punish an individual convicted pursuant to section 11-501(c)(3) with a mandatory period of
    imprisonment.
    ¶ 29        Because the phrase “subject to 6 months of imprisonment” in section 11-501(c)(3) of the
    Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) (West 2018)) is ambiguous, we agree with defendant
    that the rule of lenity applies in this case. The rule of lenity is defined as follows: “The judicial
    doctrine holding that a court, in construing an ambiguous criminal statute that sets out multiple
    -6-
    or inconsistent punishments, should resolve the ambiguity in favor of the more lenient
    punishment.” Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019). Our supreme court has stated, “[u]nder
    the rule of lenity, we adopt the more lenient interpretation of a criminal statute when, after
    consulting traditional canons of statutory construction, we are left with an ambiguous statute.”
    (Internal quotation marks omitted.) People v. Gaytan, 
    2015 IL 116223
    , ¶ 39, 
    32 N.E.3d 641
    .
    As a result, section 11-501(c)(3) should not be construed to impose a mandatory minimum
    period of 6 months’ imprisonment. Because the trial court believed it was statutorily required
    to sentence defendant to 6 months of incarceration, it erred by failing to exercise its discretion
    in sentencing defendant. See People v. Pinkston, 
    2013 IL App (4th) 111147
    , ¶ 14, 
    989 N.E.2d 298
     (noting a trial court errs when it fails to exercise discretion based on an incorrect belief it
    does not have discretion). Thus, we vacate defendant’s sentence and remand this case for a
    new sentencing hearing.
    ¶ 30                                      III. CONCLUSION
    ¶ 31      For the reasons stated, we affirm the finding of guilt but vacate defendant’s sentence and
    remand this case for a new sentencing hearing consistent with this opinion.
    ¶ 32      Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded with directions.
    ¶ 33       PRESIDING JUSTICE STEIGMANN, dissenting:
    ¶ 34       Like my distinguished colleagues in the majority, I am troubled not only by the imprecise
    language the legislature used in section 11-501(c)(3) of the Vehicle Code but also by the
    wisdom of the policy that section reflects—namely, that section 11-501(c)(3) imposes a
    mandatory 180 days in jail based upon a defendant’s DUI conviction if she was transporting a
    person under the age of 16 at the time of her violation. However, the wisdom (or lack thereof)
    of statutes is not a subject with which this court may be legitimately concerned. And our
    disagreement with a statute is certainly no basis to decline to enforce it.
    ¶ 35       So, the real question before us is to determine as best we can whether the legislature really
    meant to impose such a penalty. After carefully considering this statute, I conclude that it did;
    accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
    ¶ 36       Because the majority does a good job discussing the law applicable to statutory
    interpretation, I need not repeat that discussion. Instead, I will discuss the reasons for my
    disagreement with the majority.
    ¶ 37       In this case, we are tasked with giving effect to the legislature’s intent. In doing so, this
    court must weigh several considerations, including (1) the plain language of the statute, (2) the
    lack of the normal terminology that the legislature uses to denote required minimum
    imprisonment, (3) various interpretations that might render particular portions of the statute
    superfluous, and (4) the existence of other statutes that increase the minimum penalty of
    incarceration but still allow for probation.
    ¶ 38                                     A. Plain Language
    ¶ 39       Some cases can be resolved simply by looking at the plain language. Unfortunately, this is
    not one of them because “subject to” is not explicitly defined in the statute. 625 ILCS 5/11-
    500 (West 2018).
    -7-
    ¶ 40       I agree with the majority that, contextually, “subject” can have different meanings and
    different dictionary definitions might lead to different results. A political speech that is subject
    to misinterpretation is not one that is always misinterpreted. Meanwhile, a corporation that is
    subject to the laws of Delaware is always under the jurisdiction of those laws. In the context
    of the statute at issue, “is subject to” is not sufficiently clarified by its context to make its
    meaning clear. So, other methods of statutory interpretation must be used.
    ¶ 41                                       B. The Terminology
    ¶ 42       When analyzing legislative intent based upon the terminology used by the legislature in
    this statute, we face two competing considerations. First, the legislature did not use language
    like “must” or “mandatory” or “shall” as it often does when describing mandatory
    imprisonment. See, e.g., 630 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(5) (West 2018) (is “subject to *** a mandatory
    minimum”). Second, it seems nonsensical that the legislature would include language about
    six months of imprisonment at all if it simply meant to repeat a possible penalty that already
    may be imposed upon all Class A misdemeanants. Accordingly, I conclude that the legislature
    simply used a different word than one it would normally use in order to require a mandatory
    sentence of 180 days, and I disagree with the idea that the legislature intended to merely
    reiterate the possible penalty of 6 months in jail for no apparent reason other than to remind
    courts of a possible penalty.
    ¶ 43                             C. Avoiding Superfluous Interpretations
    ¶ 44       No matter how one interprets the statute, portions of it are inevitably rendered superfluous.
    As defendant notes, if “subject to” means that the imprisonment is mandatory, then using the
    term “mandatory” elsewhere in the statute would be superfluous. See 
    id.
     However, if “subject
    to” does not mean that the imprisonment is mandatory, then mentioning the possibility of a
    six-month sentence would be entirely superfluous because, as noted earlier, all Class A
    misdemeanors carry that possible penalty—and more. Applying the rule to avoid
    interpretations that render the legislature’s language superfluous favors the interpretation that
    “subject to” is mandatory.
    ¶ 45                       D. Special Sentencing Ranges That Permit Probation
    ¶ 46       There are many crimes for which the legislature has seen fit to assign a special sentencing
    range. These crimes often carry a harsher penalty than would otherwise apply. Most of the
    crimes with harsher penalties do not permit probation as an alternative to imprisonment, but
    some do.
    ¶ 47       For example, aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm is a Class 4 felony, but unlike
    other felonies of that Class, it carries a possible penalty of 1 to 12 years in prison, instead of 1
    to 3 years. 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(2)(F) (West 2016). However, probation remains as an
    alternative to imprisonment, despite the increased penalty. 
    Id.
     The statute says “if sentenced to
    a term of imprisonment” before describing the sentencing range, indicating that options other
    than prison remain. 
    Id.
    ¶ 48       Another crime with a special sentencing range is reckless homicide in a construction zone
    causing the deaths of two or more people. 720 ILCS 5/9-3(e-8) (West 2018). It is a Class 2
    -8-
    felony, but unlike other felonies of that Class, it carries a possible penalty of between 6 and 28
    years, instead of 3 to 7 years, again, “if sentenced to a term of imprisonment.” 
    Id.
    ¶ 49       These statutes demonstrate that, when the legislature creates a special sentencing range in
    which probation is an option, the legislature commonly uses the phrase “if sentenced to a term
    of imprisonment” in order to leave the option of a nonprison sentence available.
    ¶ 50       Unlike the above crimes, which expressly say “if sentenced to a term of imprisonment”
    before stating the special sentencing range, the statute at issue in this case provides no such
    qualification. It makes no mention of the possibility of a sentence involving no imprisonment.
    This omission indicates that section 11-501(c)(3) does not contemplate probation or other
    community-based sentences.
    ¶ 51                                            E. Conclusion
    ¶ 52       The legislature’s use of language that is uncommon or imperfect does not authorize this
    court to substitute its judgment for that of the legislature notwithstanding any concerns we may
    have regarding the policy underlying the statute in question. I conclude that (1) the legislature
    intended to create a greater-than-normal penalty for DUI with a young person in the vehicle
    and (2) the interpretation that “is subject to” creates a mandatory imprisonment for 180 days
    for the offense is consistent with the legislature’s intent. Accordingly, because I conclude that
    section 11-501(c)(3) requires a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, I respectfully dissent.
    -9-