It’s been just over a year since Noah’s Law was enacted in Maryland. The law was named after a young police officer in Montgomery County who was killed at a DUI checkpoint by a drunk driver.
Noah’s Law requires that all drivers convicted of DUI be required to have an ignition interlock device (IID) on their vehicles — even first-time offenders. The 24-year-old officer’s face is even on all IIDs issued in the state.
Because of the law, IID use has risen by 10 percent and 25 percent for first offenders. However, Noah Leotta’s parents have by no means ended their mission to save others from drunk drivers.
The numbers are still alarming. Approximately one person is killed every 50 minutes by a driver who’s under the influence of alcohol. According to Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, “Drunk and drugged drivers are involved in about a third of all Maryland deaths.”
According to Noah’s father, he and his son discussed the problem of drunk driving shortly before his death. “He told me our laws were too weak and our judges were too lenient.”
As we move into the year-end holiday season, which began with the long Halloween weekend, law enforcement officers will be out in force to spot drivers who have done a little too much celebrating before getting behind the wheel.
Whether you are pulled over by an officer and arrested for suspicion of being under the influence or you are arrested at a DUI checkpoint, it’s essential to know your rights. An experienced Maryland DUI attorney can help you protect those rights and guide you through what can be a long, expensive and frightening journey through the justice system.
Source: CBS Baltimore, “Signs Of Progress A Year After Noah’s Law Is Put In Place,” Denise Koch, Oct. 27, 2017