UPDATE 11:51 a.m. 5/19/2016: Gov. Hogan has signed the bill into law.
EARLIER:
ROCKVILLE, Md. — One day after the man who hit and killed their son pleaded guilty to the crime, Montgomery County police officer Noah Leotta’s parents are celebrating as the governor prepares to sign Noah’s Law in Annapolis.
“It’s a good capstone that we have something positive from such a terrible tragedy,” said Leotta’s father, Rich Leotta, after the court hearing.
This week is giving the officer’s family its first chance at closure.
On Wednesday, Luis Reluzco pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after he hit Leotta in Rockville as he was stopping another driver suspected of being under the influence on Dec. 3, 2015.
Court documents say Reluzco admitted to police he was drunk that night and prosecutors say he didn’t realize he had hit anyone. Reluzco had a blood alcohol concentration that later tested at nearly three times the legal limit and had drugs in his system, prosecutors said.
The plea the family has waited for and the law the family has been fighting for both land in the same week — and it’s a coincidence not lost on Rich Leotta.
“That’s why we’ve battled for Noah’s Law — so we’ll prevent that type of situation from ever happening again to other families,” he said.
Noah’s Law would require ignition interlock devices for anyone found driving drunk.
Gov. Larry Hogan has said he is 100 percent behind the bill Leotta’s parents and Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger have been advocating for since his death in December.
“We were given that gift to find that legacy that Noah will have tomorrow and forever. Noah Leotta will always be on patrol,” his father said.
