Steve Burns
ANNAPOLIS – (WMAL) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will be signing Noah’s Law today, the culmination of a long battle in Annapolis following the death of Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta at the hands of a drunk driver in December.
“We could’ve curled up and gone away, and just left with the tragedy,” Leotta’s father Rich said Wednesday. “But instead, we took that tragedy and turned it into something positive.”
Rich Leotta was speaking following a guilty plea from the driver, Luis Reluzco, in Rockville District Court on Wednesday. Reluzco was charged with vehicular manslaughter and will be sentenced in August. Police say Reluzco was driving drunk when he slammed into Officer Leotta, who was on the middle of another drunk driving stop in December on Rockville Pike. Leotta died as a result of his injuries. His lawyer said Reluzco prays for the Leotta family regularly and is also grateful Noah’s Law came about as a result of the crash.
“It’s a good capstone, that we’ve got something positive from such a terrible tragedy,” Leotta said. “Noah’s Law has helped me and my family channel our grief into something positive.”
Naoh’s Law requires all convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices. The driver would have to blow into the device, measuring blood alcohol content, before the car’s ignition can be started. It was passed in April with just minutes left in this year’s Maryland General Assembly.
Leotta said his work will continue to make sure Noah’s Law and other drunk driving laws are effective
“We were given that gift, to find that legacy Noah will have forever,” Leotta said. “His legacy will always be saving lives, as he did when he was on the force, and as he is doing from Heaven now.”
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