ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Montgomery County police officer killed by a drunken driver will now stare back at anyone who is caught intoxicated behind the wheel in Maryland.
The companies that create interlocks are printing out thousands of stickers featuring Officer Noah Leotta’s face and a police badge with the words “Noah’s Law” printed on them. They’re now attached to every interlock device mandated by the law that bears his name.
Smart Start, LifeSaver and Intoxalock banded together to agree to producing the stamp and place them on every one of their in-car ignition interlock devices in Maryland.
“It’s not just a piece of equipment, it’s about life,” said Noah’s father Rich Leotta, who believes adding his son’s face humanizes the device.
“This is why you have an interlock. We are trying to prevent you from doing what has happened to my son and many others, who have lost their lives to drunken drivers,” said Leotta.
The 24-year-old Montgomery County police officer was struck by a drunken driver in December 2015 during a traffic stop. Leotta died a week later from his injuries.
Meanwhile, the state is unveiling a federally funded DUI truck that helps officers process offenders quickly and sends the officers back on patrol.
“This has actual Breathalyzers in it. So we have the opportunity to process two people at one time in it. It’s really about more efficiency and keeping law enforcement on site so they can continue the hunt for drunk drivers,” said state Secretary of Transportation Peter Rahn.
It can take officers two to three hours to process a driver, Rahn said. And while the state estimates only 2 percent of drunken drivers are pulled over, Rahn said this will help keep everyone safer by allowing officers to return to patrol faster.
Editor’s Note: This story has been changed to reflect the private companies responsible for the creation and placement of the stickers.
