Losing a loved one in a fatal car crash is heartbreaking. Losing a loved one in a crash caused by a drunk driver can seem senseless as it could have been prevented if the driver did not get behind the wheel. Maryland has a measure in place, Noah’s Law, to help prevent driving while intoxicated but it is not always enforced.

The law was named for a Maryland policeman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2015. The law states that anyone convicted of drunk driving must have an ignition interlock device in their car. The device prevents the car from starting unless the driver blows into the device which measures the driver’s blood alcohol level. However, if a driver pleads guilty to the charge and gets probation, the device is not required.

Members of the Maryland legislature want to close the loophole that they believe exists in the law. A person who had a relative who was required to have the device said it made a difference. According to a statement he made, having the device prevented his relative from getting behind the wheel after he had been drinking. The man went on to say that the device can also save the life of the drunk driver.

There may not be a way to stop all drunk driving accidents from happening. If the proposed bill passes, the number of accidents caused by drunk drivers may go down. A family who loses a loved one as a result of a DWI accident will be heartbroken and grief stricken. There is nothing that can undo the tragic accident but a civil suit brought in a Maryland court may provide compensation for medical costs, final costs and other documented losses.