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‘Noah’s Law’ bill poised to become law in Maryland ‘Noah’s Law’ bill approved in Md. legislature
(about 1 hour later)
A high-profile bill to expand the use of ignition locks for drunk drivers in Maryland appeared on the way to becoming law Monday, as members of the House and Senate negotiated an agreement on the final details and Gov. Larry Hogan expressed strong support. A high-profile bill to expand the use of ignition locks for drunk drivers in Maryland received final approval from the legislature Monday night, with about 30 minutes left in the annual legislative session.
The bill, versions of which had languished in the House Judiciary Committee for years, was awaiting a vote by a House-Senate conference committee Monday night and a final vote in each chamber. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has expressed strong support for the bill, which had languished in the House Judiciary Committee for years.
The legislature was set to adjourn for the year at midnight. The 2016 version of the legislation was dubbed “Noah’s Law” after Noah Leotta, a Montgomery County police officer who was killed by an alleged drunk driver at a DUI checkpoint in Rockville late last year.
This year’s version of the legislation was dubbed “Noah’s Law” after Noah Leotta, a Montgomery County police officer who was killed by an alleged drunk driver at a DUI checkpoint in Rockville late last year.
His death galvanized law enforcement agencies across the state to lobby for the bill, along with the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and brought his grieving family to Annapolis multiple times — including Monday — to plead for its passage.His death galvanized law enforcement agencies across the state to lobby for the bill, along with the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and brought his grieving family to Annapolis multiple times — including Monday — to plead for its passage.
In response to the outpouring from the community, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) told Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D-Prince George’s) to make sure the bill got a vote in committee.In response to the outpouring from the community, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) told Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D-Prince George’s) to make sure the bill got a vote in committee.
[Move this bill, House speaker says. And move it quickly.][Move this bill, House speaker says. And move it quickly.]
Over the weekend, however, the measure hit a final stumbling block: a proposal to link the legislation with a bill that would allow punitive damages in civil lawsuits involving drunk drivers. During the weekend, however, the measure hit a final stumbling block: a proposal to link the legislation with a bill that would allow punitive damages in civil lawsuits involving drunk drivers. The punitive damages measure had stalled in committee earlier in the session, and key delegates balked at the idea of adding it to the ignition-law bill.
The punitive damages measure never received a vote in the committee, and key delegates balked at the idea of adding it to the ignition-law bill. By Monday, lawmakers had dropped the idea of combining the two measures, and instead were close to agreeing on a series of amendments to the House version of the bill, which advocates said brought the measure closer to the version that had been passed by the Senate.
By Monday, lawmakers instead were close to agreeing on a series of amendments to the House version of the bill, which advocates said brought the measure closer to the version that had been passed by the Senate. The House voted unanimously in favor of the amended bill at about 11:30 p.m., with Leotta’s family looking on. Del. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Montgomery) then introduced each of the slain officer’s relatives, and lawmakers gave them a standing ovation.
The Senate bill requires ignition interlocks for anyone who has failed a breath-alcohol test, not just those who have been convicted of driving under the influence. The House and Senate versions of the bill would require motorists convicted of driving at or above the state’s legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent to have an ignition interlock placed on their vehicle. Currently, the locks are required only when the blood alcohol level is 0.15 or greater. “You will always know Noah is still on the job every single time an ignition interlock stops a drunk driver,” Kramer told them.
“It’s going to be a stronger bill,” Rich Leotta, the father of the slain officer, said after the amendments were added. “It’s really going to honor Noah . . . What they did, however they got here, I’m happy for it.” The bill lowers the blood-alcohol level at which ignition locks are required from 0.15 to 0.08. It also requires ignition interlocks for anyone who has failed a breath-alcohol test, not just those who have been convicted of driving under the influence.
“It’s going to be a stronger bill,” Rich Leotta, the father of the slain officer, said after the amendments were added. “It’s really going to honor Noah. . . . What they did, however they got here, I’m happy for it.”
[Letting Noah go: Devastated parents learn to channel their grief][Letting Noah go: Devastated parents learn to channel their grief]
The legislation has strong support from Hogan (R), who said Monday that he was frustrated about the roadblocks that surfaced in recent days. A different alcohol-related bill, which would increase penalties for adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers, also passed the House Monday night.
“We’re 100 percent behind this bill,” he said, adding that he would do whatever he could to ensure it passed. That bill, too, is named for a tragic event: the car accident last year that killed two recent graduates of Wootton High School, Calvin Li and Alex Murk.
A different alcohol-related bill, which would increase penalties for adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers, also hit a snag. Its chances of passage remained unclear Monday evening. The driver, also a recent graduate, had been at an underage drinking party and pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter.
That bill, too, is named for a tragic event: the car crash last year that killed two recent graduates of Wootton High School, Calvin Li and Alex Murk. The driver, also a recent graduate, had been at an underage drinking party and pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted in February to stiffen the penalties in “Alex and Calvin’s Law.” But it added amendments to the bill that the penalties would apply only if the adults knew or should have known that the underage drinker would drive.The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted in February to stiffen the penalties in “Alex and Calvin’s Law.” But it added amendments to the bill that the penalties would apply only if the adults knew or should have known that the underage drinker would drive.
The measure was assigned to a conference committee and was awaiting action.The measure was assigned to a conference committee and was awaiting action.
The General Assembly this session passed a bill that increases the maximum criminal penalties for repeat impaired drivers who have been convicted once of a drunken driving accident that involved serious injury or death.The General Assembly this session passed a bill that increases the maximum criminal penalties for repeat impaired drivers who have been convicted once of a drunken driving accident that involved serious injury or death.