Legislature Dumps Bike Safety Helmet Bill

Idaho lawmakers ditched a bill that would have fined parents $25 for failing to make sure their children wear bicycle helmets on Idaho roads.  The Senate Transportation Committee killed the measure last week, after two days of hearings. The panel's two Democrats were the only lawmakers to support the bill, which required kids 12 and under to wear helmets on state roadways. Democratic Sen. Diane Bilyeu of Pocatello drafted the bill after she was approached by an eastern Idaho man whose daughter was struck by a car while riding her bicycle. Chris Estes believes a helmet saved his daughter's life and he testified to lawmakers in support of the bill.      Bilyeu says her bill failed amid concerns from Republican Sen. John McGee of Caldwell that it mandated to people what they could and couldn't do.