Steve Burns
WMAL.com

ANNAPOLIS – (WMAL) House and Senate negotiators still have to hammer out a compromise of Noah’s Law, named for Montgomery County Officer Noah Leotta who was killed by a drunk driver last year.

“I’m certainly on the edge of my seat about whether we’ll be able to get Noah’s Law passed,” State Senator Jamie Raskin told WMAL. Monday marks the final day of the General Assembly session, known as Sine Die. “It means a lot to me. I’m very passionate about it. It’s my top priority.”

The bill would compel convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlock devices before starting their car. The House and Senate are still at odds on multiple provisions of the bill.

“The House passed a somewhat weaker version,” Raskin said. “Under their version, you would either be on the interlock, or you could have your license suspended for a period of time.”

He said a suspended license frequently does not stop people from driving. “Cops stop people all the time who are on suspended licenses.”

The House also stripped out a Senate provision that would require those charged with drunk driving who refused to take a breathalyzer test to have an ignition interlock, even before his or her trial.

“I’m hoping that we’ll be able to reconcile and pass the strongest possible bill out of the General Assembly,” Raskin said. “The death toll we had last year of 130 people killed in drunk driving incidents last year is just unacceptable. There really is no acceptable level.”

Leotta’s father, Rich, has spent time in Annapolis lobbying for the bill in the four months since his son was killed. He spoke with reporters during the final push over the weekend.

“When an interlock gets put on somebody’s car, from now on it will still be Noah Leotta on patrol,” he said.

Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Montgomery County Police Twitter)