WHEATON, Md. — The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) and highway safety advocates gathered Monday to announce the expansion of the state’s Ignition Interlock Law, commonly known as Noah’s Law. This legislative change, set to take effect on October 1, 2024, will require all DUI offenders to participate in the Ignition Interlock System Program. The expansion aims to close a loophole in the original 2016 law, which did not require all DUI offenders to install the ignition interlock devices.
The law, officially referred to as HB 105 (CH 715), was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore earlier this year and builds upon the Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016. The original law, Noah’s Law, was named after Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta, who was killed by a drunk driver while on duty in December 2015. Since then, Noah’s Law has played a significant role in curbing drunk driving by mandating the installation of ignition interlock devices for certain DUI offenders.
Event Details and Key Participants
The announcement took place at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton, Maryland, where state officials, highway safety advocates, and members of Officer Leotta’s family spoke in support of the expanded legislation. Chrissy Nizer, the MDOT MVA Administrator and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative, emphasized the importance of this new law in addressing the ongoing issue of impaired driving.
What the Expansion Means for Maryland
Under the new law, all DUI offenders—regardless of prior history or BAC level—will be required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. This device prevents the car from starting if the driver has a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level above .025.
The program has already seen success in Maryland. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), ignition interlock devices in the state prevented more than 76,800 drinking and driving attempts in 2023, with over 8,100 of those attempts involving drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher.
Demonstrations and Impact
A vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device was available on-site for demonstrations, allowing attendees to see how the technology works. The device requires the driver to blow into a breathalyzer connected to the ignition system before the vehicle can start. If alcohol is detected, the car will not operate.
The MDOT MVA, along with its partners, hopes the expanded use of these devices will continue to drive down the number of impaired driving incidents in the state. Over the past five years, nearly 800 people have been killed and 15,000 injured in Maryland due to crashes involving impaired drivers, according to MDOT MVA data.
While the expansion of Noah’s Law is set to take effect in October 2024, state officials and safety advocates urge Marylanders to remain vigilant against impaired driving. The MDOT MVA and its partners plan to continue raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving through educational campaigns and enforcement initiatives.
