The fate of a bill aimed to to keep drugged drivers off the road hung in limbo Wednesday.
The House and Senate versions of the bills are significantly different and the bill appears headed to a conference committee after the House Wednesday voted not to accept the Senate version.
There is disagreement among legislators as well as law enforcement officials and other advocates on what the bill should do and what it actually does.
After several revisions by the Senate Judiciary Committee, senators Tuesday amended the bill again on the floor, creating more confusion about the standard needed to convict someone of DUI drugs.
Vermont has different standards for impairment for drugs and for alcohol and prosecutors say the drugs standard is so high it is virtually impossible to convict someone of drugged driving.
The House put the drugged driving standard in line with the alcohol standard whereas the Senate attempted to make room for drivers who are taking drugs that do not impair their driving.
Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn Wednesday said the Senate version will not help stop more drugged drivers.
“I’m in hopes that we can kill the bill,” Flynn said.
The Senate has not yet appointed its members to the conference committee.
Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, a defense attorney and Judiciary Committee vice chairman, Wednesday said if appointed, he would vote for the Senate version, which asks police and prosecutors to prove the drug interferes with safe driving.
