This year, Maryland lawmakers closed a loophole in the Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 (Noah’s Law) that will require more people charged with DUI to get an ignition interlock device (IID) if they want to drive legally. The law was named for a Montgomery County police officer who was fatally struck by a drunk driver at a sobriety checkpoint.
The original law required anyone convicted of DUI to have an IID installed on any vehicle they drove if they wanted a restricted driver’s license that would allow them to drive until they got their full driving privileges back. An IID is a breathalyzer-type device that a driver blows into to show they haven’t been drinking. Only then will the vehicle start. IIDs also prompt drivers to take “rolling retests” while driving to show that they are remaining sober.
The IID requirement now extends to those with PBJs
Under the revised law, which took effect in October, anyone who has been granted “probation before judgment” or PBJ by a judge for a DUI must also get an IID for at least six months if they want to resume driving. Previously, those with PBJs were exempt from the IID requirement.
The change in the law will result in a lot more IIDs in vehicles (an estimated 5,700) and likely save lives. PBJs are relatively common for first-time DUI charges. They have the advantage of sparing people from having a conviction on their record as long as they comply with the conditions of their probation. The argument by those who have advocated for the change was that these defendants are still people who have driven while under the influence, and avoiding a conviction shouldn’t make them exempt from this important safety measure.
Too many people reject the idea of getting an IID because they find it embarrassing or inconvenient. However, driving without a valid license is only going to compound your legal problems. It’s crucial if you have the option to get an IID to understand the requirements as well as how it works. That will help you get through this period more smoothly and regain your full driving privileges.