Scripting and date filters

I'm trying to use the date filter in a script.  When I do the read the script just stops, doesn't even throw an error.   Has any one used date filter in a read in a script?  Here is my code:

function setTimeOffRequestSwitch ()
{
   
    try
        {
    // check the bookings for this user.
    var newr = NSOA.form.getNewRecord();
    var userid = newr.userid;
    var startdate = convertToDate(newr.startdate);
    var enddate = convertToDate(newr.enddate);
   
    var booking = new NSOA.record.oaBooking();
    booking.userid = userid;
    var bookingObjsArray = [];
   
    bookingObjsArray.push(booking);
    bookingObjsArray.push(startdate);
    bookingObjsArray.push(startdate);
   
    NSOA.meta.alert("start and end " + startdate + " " + enddate + " id " + userid);

  
   
// Define the read request