Posted on 01/14/2012 8:15:50 PM PST by Beowulf9
A group of Amish men in western Kentucky have been jailed after refusing to put reflective triangles on the back of their horse-drawn carts.
Jacob Gingerich was one of eight men sent to prison for a few days in September after ignoring state law that requires all slow-moving objects on the road to display reflective triangles.
The group of Swartzentruber Amish men in rural Graves County, USA, refused to pay their fines and disobeyed orders from a judge, landing them in jail.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Darn Amish! I don’t trust anyone that just wants to be left alone.
I live on the edge of Amish country, and yes, wrecks like these are all to common.
Sunday afternoons are particularly deadly because you have more Amish on the roads either returning from church or courting plus an influx of motorists from places unaccustomed to needing to beware of buggies.
Law Enforcement Officer shoots horse, wrecker driver removes buggy.
Not too much, it was a long nose Peterbilt. I think there was a broken head light. The driver was really shaken up. So we me and my brother. We were on our way to his girlfriends place way south in NC. For a sixteen year old kid like me from Jersey it was horrible. The blood and the gore and the smell, ug. I got sick. The driver got on his cb radio, troopers came and all. Never did find out who owned the horse. It was just awful.
A newer testament which changed these rules was brought before them but it had a flashy cover and got thrown out with the other unholy books. It cold have saved them all a bunch of time and horses.
My dad grew up during the 30’s in NC. He told me that his mother wouldn’t let his sister or step-sister make the biscuits/bread if they were on their periods. I think my maternal grandmother from England had a lot of strange ideas/superstitions too.
I was wondering the same. I was stationed in Italy 32 years ago and the farmers would hang a lantern from the back axle area when plodding at night. Even the lantern didn't give a good alert if you were on the Autostrade and there were other cars/lights to divert you.
state law that requires all slow-moving objects on the road to display reflective trianglesAre they required on the backs of cars driven by seniors?
“They should stay off of modern paved roads”.
I agree, Moonman62! You can’t have it “both ways”. You can’t refuse to use the reflective orange triangle because it is “modern” and sinful and then insist you can use public roads. A person can have all the religious beliefs they want but those beliefs STOP when it endangers me or my family. Granted, a car can do better than the buggy/occupants/horse BUT there is still a risk to the driver of the automobile (depending on size/speed/etc). This sect of Amish can choose to walk or hire someone to transport them. Or, they can stay at home. IMHO.
Motorcycles have headlights and tail lights. I don’t know the law(s) concerning bicycles but something makes me think that if a bicycle is driven at night... there has to be a reflective triangle or other means to illuminate. I know some of the bicycles in our area has a flashing/blinking light attached to the back.
I personally believe you can have whatever religious views you want. However, when one’s views conflict with my safety... that is when it becomes improper. An Amish buggy driven at dusk/night/rainy dark weather/snowy weather... is not visible. I would have to think that a smaller car (like a Honda, Toyota etc) wouldn’t fare well in a collision with a buggy. Neither would its occupants. Just my thoughts.
Motorcycles have headlights and tail and brake lights and travel at the same speeds cars to. Bicycles aren’t typically ridden on dark country roads at night and most bikes have reflectors. Bicycles are also smaller and can usually stay closer to the side of the road unlike buggies.
So, they refused an orange triangle, instead getting arrested and having their photos taken. I just find that amusing. Not only that, most of these articles about them and the orange triangles include more pictures.
Bicycles here are required to have a light on the front and a taillight on the back, just like cars. I have noticed some wearing yellow reflective vests at night. Good idea.
The Amish that I’m familiar with, around Smicksburg, PA, use reflective triangles and at night, lanterns.
The Amish don’t like the reflective triangle because it is bright and glittery and is not accepted by their religion.
However, in an article I read, they would normally approve of a strip of reflective grey tape affixed to the carriage.
Problem solved.
Vehicles displaying the orange triangle are required to pull off the road when more than four vehicles are waiting behind them.
It is an “orange triangle” to send a message, just like a red octagon says stop, the orange triangle says slow moving farm vehicle that will pull over and let you by... so be patient.
I sometimes visit the Amish community in Ethridge, TN that is part of this sect. They are very serious about bright, shiny objects. A friend had brought a milk jug to replace the jug she would get for her raw milk, and they wouldn’t take it. Instead they transferred the milk to her jug. The problem was her jug had a gold colored metal lid.
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