JUDGE FINDS AMISH GUILTY!

AP Wire | June 6, 2002 | DAN LEWERENZ

[NYer]

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) _ A judge ruled an ultraconservative Amish congregation must use orange-and-red reflective triangles on their buggies, symbols the group says violate their beliefs against gaudy decorations and against placing their faith in man-made symbols before God.

Donna Doblick, the Pittsburgh attorney representing the Swartzentruber Amish for free, said she'll appeal the ruling to Pennsylvania Superior Court. That means the $95 fines assessed to 20 sect members for failing to use the slow-moving vehicle symbols will be held in abeyance until the appeal is heard.

Also, the Swartz'ntruber, who said they'll leave Pennsylvania if they lose the case, will likely remain near Nicktown, about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh, while the appeal is heard, Doblick said. Instead of the triangles, the Swartzentruber prefer to use a gray reflective tape and a lantern on the rear of their buggies. The gray tape is legal in nine states for use on slow moving vehicles, including Ohio, where the sect lived until two years ago.

But Cambria County Judge Timothy Creany ruled that the state can abridge the Swartzentruber's religious beliefs because it has a ``compelling interest'' _ namely, keeping the Amish and other vehicles safe on public roads. Creany relied on testimony given last month by state transportation experts, who said the triangles are more visible than the tape during thE dqy _ when statistics show about 61 percent of all vehicle-buggy accidents occur.

Doblick said those statistics don't prove anything, however, because they don't show how the accidents occurred or who was at fault. ``There's no evidence any of those crashes were from the rear (where the reflective symbols are mounted on buggies), or a lack of visibility,'' Doblick said. ``There's no evidence that any of those crashes could have been prevented by bathing the vehicle in color.''

The Cambria County District Attorney's Office didn't immediately return calls for comment on the decision.

AP-ES-06-06-02 1606EDT

[A.J.Armitage]

Suppose moustaches came into fashion, and at the same time, the military prohibited its members from having them. Then not having moustaches would be associated with the military. Would the Amish start wearing moustaches?

[Pistias]

Long time no see.

[A.J.Armitage]

Yep.

[Hitlerys uterus]

"Mennonites are similar to Amish but they can drive cars and wear regular clothes."

Drive cars? Regular clothes!?!? BURN THE HERETICS!!

[FlyVet]

I grew up near Lancaster County PA, where many Amish live. They don't bother anybody.

Yes, very mellow people. They also live in northern Indiana and northern NY. While I was up there in NY on a fishing trip, driving the back roads, they always smiled and waved as I drove past them, even though I was driving a pickup truck and they didn't know me from anybody. I don't think a horse and buggy needs a red reflective triangle, at least in the daytime. At night, if they are on the roads, that's a different story, for their protection.

[uglybiker]

If the Amish aren't made to use the orange triangles, then the terrorists have won.

[PJ-Comix]

Suppose moustaches came into fashion, and at the same time, the military prohibited its members from having them. Then not having moustaches would be associated with the military. Would the Amish start wearing moustaches?

Only if those changes were in effect as of about 1672. It was about then that time stopped for the Amish.

[Boner1]

Its all because and ebensburg state trooper lives close to them , and has a lead foot .

And is useing his power to push them out.

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL!

[maxwell]

Hey nice post #, bro... ;)

[maxwell]

Naw, I liked Witness...

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL! Isn't that pic on #22 funny? I posted that and the link to this
article on the USO Thread to entertain them.

[Wiser now]

There areAmish church districts in Ohio that don't use the orange triangles, so I'm at a loss as to why this particular group moved to Pa., unless it was a matter of finding more farmland. In Ohio, it is easy to pop over a hill and find a buggy just on the other side of the crest. If you know this possibility, it's not a problem. If there is a speeding semi behind you there's a big problem indeed. The Amish will ride in, but may not own an automobile. There are numerous van "taxi" services in Ohio for those Amish who need to get to town quick, or have more than six to ten miles to their destination.

[agrace]

However, if they want to run their buggies on the public roads, they are subject to the same laws as the rest of us.

I grew up in Central PA, lost of Amish, and I agree with you. Don't get me wrong, I have much respect for the Amish and love to see them out and about, their buggies don't bother me one bit, but if they are using public roads, they should be required to obey traffic laws for their own safety. Many Amish groups have no problem doing such - I have seen plenty of orange triangles on backs of buggies. It is the ultra-conservatives that are having a hard time with this.

They are by and large great people. When I was growing up, the neighbor of close friends to my parents lost his barn in a fire and within a week, the Amish did for their non-Amish neighbor what they do for each other - raised him a new one in a day.

But sorry, Amish. Please use the triangle. Those PA back roads can be dark and windy.

[Marysecretary]

We're getting a lot of Mennonites in our area. I guess PA's farmland is really expensive and here it's much more reasonable. They bring a stable life to any community in which they live.

[Marysecretary]

The Mennonites here wear plain clothing, colorful but very plain, and the white caps on their heads. They wear sneakers or running shoes on their feet much of the time. Good folks. Glad to see them buying up our dying farms around here and fixing them up. They also manufacture and install windows, make sheds for your home, run stores, etc.

[HamiltonJay]

It all depends on the sect of the Amish religion I guess, some use tractors and electricity, but only if powered by their own generator to stop waist... others will pay someone to drive them around in cars, but will not operate them or own them themselves.... I gave up trying to keep it all straight years ago... I respect their devotion to hard work, and anyone willing to wear full black and a full beard in 90+ degrees with 90%+ humidity while working a full day of farm work is certainly dedicated.