Friday, January 13, 2012

Amish Buggy Fight

A group of conservative Amish men in western Kentucky are protesting against a state law requiring orange safety triangles on their horse-drawn buggies. Nine members of the Swartzentruber order in rural Graves County have refused to pay fines for not using the triangles, and eight of them have spent time in jail. The men believe that the orange triangle is garish and violates their faith’s orders to live simple, plain lives. They prefer using gray reflective tape and lanterns to make their buggies visible to motorists. Kentucky officials say the orange triangles are still the best way to make sure buggies are visible for the safety of everyone on the road.