Bill Punishing Drivers with Untreated Medical Condition Fails

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill to punish drivers who get behind the wheel with a known, untreated medical condition died on the House floor. The 49-19 vote came Thursday after opponents argued it was too broad, and could open up even those who were trying to control their condition to charges. Motorists who fail to take steps to treat diabetes, epilepsy and other problems could have been be charged with inattentive driving if they wreck or are pulled over under the proposed law. Rep. Janet Trujillo, an Idaho Falls Republican the bill's sponsor, said it would give officers and prosecutors more leeway to investigate an accident_and could save lives. But several lawmakers countered that conditions like alcoholism or obesity could also be interpreted as falling under the umbrella of the law.