Noah’s Law, named after a Montgomery County police officer who was killed by a suspected drunk driver, passed the Maryland Senate and House in the final hour of the state’s 2016 legislative session.
Noah’s Law requires mandatory participation in the Ignition Interlock System Program for a person (1) convicted the first time of driving under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of alcohol per se; while impaired by alcohol; or while impaired by a drug, any combination of drugs, or a combination of one or more drugs and alcohol; (2) whose license is suspended by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) for an administrative per se offense; and (3) convicted of homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, impaired by alcohol, or impaired by a combination of one or more drugs and alcohol.
Noah’s Law also increases the periods of license suspension required for the administrative per se offenses and requires MVA to suspend the license of persons who are convicted of specified alcohol- or drug-related driving offenses.
Noah’s Law goes into effect on October 1, 2016.