Highway Damage Caused By Horseshoes Prompts Wisconsin Bill (Amish Criminals)

American Farriers Journal ^ | 9 Feb 2018

[rey]

A bill has been proposed in the Wisconsin Legislature that aims to limit damage caused by horseshoes on freshly paved rural highways, the Leader-Telegram reports.

State Rep. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, is leading the push for the legislation after hearing local officials had considered creating their own laws, impacting area Amish populations.

“I would rather do something that is consistent statewide,” Bernier told the Leader-Telegram

The bill would allow counties or municipalities to adopt ordinances prohibiting studded horseshoes on roads where they’ll cause damage from April through October — the road construction season.

Under her bill, the first offense would only receive a warning, intending to educate buggy drivers on the law. However, the second violation would result in a $25 fine, and subsequent violations would cost $50 each.

When researching the bill, Bernier met with Amish elders in the Augusta area to see what would fit their lifestyles while cutting down on damage to the roads. She learned the horseshoes that damage roads in spring are the ones used in winter to improve traction on snow and ice. The bill would basically require the filing of these studs down to a quarter-inch in spring, change horseshoes or use alternate routes where pavement is durable enough not to be damaged.

Reported highway damage in rural Eau Claire County and Thorp is what created desire for the horseshoe law.

[pepsionice]

I can just see cops rushing to enforce this stupid law. Probably some Amish guy will be shot in the process, and then we end up with Amish-lives-matter stuff going on.

[eyeamok]

I think the Amish should turn around and Sue the State in Federal Court and force them to RIP UP all the Paved roads for the Damage it does to the Horses Legs and Feet. Call it “Cruelty to Animals” maybe PETA will join them.

[G Larry]

for atheists all attacks on religion are justified.

[RightGeek]

Sounds just like studded snow tire laws, except I am surprised there is really that much damage from horses.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

Simple solution.

Just make sure people don't build horseshoe pits near the highways.....

[DaveA37]

“Sounds just like studded snow tire laws, except I am surprised there is really that much damage from horses.”.....

Studded tires? Yet the law would allow 1/4” long studs on horse shoes? Amazing. What about the “rumble strips” intentionally put into new blacktop for safety purposes? Perhaps the horse shoe studs might “create” rumble strips for the Amish. :)

[OSHA]

Officer:”Mind if I check your horseshoes?

Amish man: “Help thyself. Give Dobbin a good whack on the rump and he will show thee his hoof.”

[moehoward]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I recall the Amish in Iowa sued to be allowed to operate steel wheeled tractors on paved roads and won their case...

[New Jersey Realist]

Imagine the damage tanks would cause if we have a military parade in D.C. Let’s just have the drill teams and marching bands and lots of flags.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

The Amish need to start cutting heads, demand the imposition of Amish Law and claim outrage when they see people in non-Amish dress.

[alloysteel]

I grew up in an era in Wisconsin when many farmers still used horses as their primary means of crop planting and harvest, and the use of draft horses was only just starting to be supplanted by farm tractors with rubber treads. What farm tractors were in use before that had steel wheels, with traction spades on the wheel rims. There used to be signs put up on the blacktop roads which read “Tractors with Spades Prohibited”, as the spades would break up the soft asphalt surface.

And NEVER, NEVER call upon PETA to report cruelty to animals. Their attitude is that the animals in question should be turned loose in the open ranges on which they may never again be exploited in any way by mankind, excuse me, “peoplekind”.

[elcid1970]

I thought Amish were forbidden motor vehicles. IIRC, they can use internal combustion engines for nonpropulsion purposes.

Anyway, waiting for the Bizarro cartoon, “Amish Drive-By Murder”.

;^)

[alloysteel]

....Amish were forbidden motor vehicles.

This largely depends on how progressive the local Amish bishop may be. At one time, the Amish were denied the use of internal combustion engines altogether, because to run a spark-ignition motor, it is necessary for an electrical current to be generated to create the spark, which is considered to be a corruption of the God-given power to generate lightning in the skies. But then there was an exception made for small Diesel power units, if they could be started by pulling on the flywheel or with a hand crank, which for Diesels would require a crank about four feet long. This led to some liberalization of allowing spark-ignition motors if they used a magneto for ignition, rather than a battery, condenser, points and a coil, with an attached generator. I don't thing they have quite gotten around to electric starting motors yet.

[budj]

Just another anti-horseite!

[Vigilanteman]

In the parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio where the Amish populations are large, we just put an extra wide shoulder on these roads. It works pretty slick not only to keep traffic moving, but giving cars a safer place to pull over.

If they can tap the highway trust fund for mass transit and bicycle paths, then why not for extra wide shoulders?

[Don W]

What goes

“Clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop
Bang bang bang bang
Clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop”?

An Amish drive-by shooting.

[elcid1970]

So, generating a spark usurps God’s power over lightning? Interesting. I thought it was that Amish were bound to live the same lifestyle as their 18th Century founder Jakob Amman.

[faucetman]

https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/120-non-metal-horseshoes-boots-product-roundup-2014

They won’t allow you to drive your car on the rims and ruin the roads.

Then why should the Amish be treated differently? The treat their horses like tractors.