EBENSBURG, Pa. — Nearly two dozen Amish men went on trial Wednesday for refusing to put orange reflective triangles on their horse-drawn buggies.
An Amish scholar testified that members of the highly conservative Swartzentruber order consider the 16-inch safety symbol offensive.
The state requires the orange reflective triangle on all vehicles that don't exceed 25 mph. State police have issued citations to 22 men in the three years since the Swartzentruber community arrived in central Pennsylvania from Ohio. One man was jailed for three days after he refused to pay a $100 fine.
Instead of triangles, the group uses gray reflective tape and hang red lanterns on the buggies' sides.
Heath Long, Cambria County assistant district attorney, said the gray reflective tape is an unproven safety measure.
Defense lawyer Donna Doblick, however, said that requirement violates the Swartzentruber's constitutional rights by denying them the right to express themselves.
Donald B. Kraybill, an expert on Amish customs, testified Wednesday that the slow-moving vehicle symbol was considered an affront to the Swartzentruber. In an earlier interview, Kraybill said the safety symbols were as offensive to the Swartzentruber as swastikas were to other people.
This particular order, Kraybill said, maintains exceptionally conservative customs, such as not using indoor plumbing or hanging anything on walls of homes.
Other Amish groups generally do use reflective triangles on their buggies. At least seven of the 12 states where the Swartzentruber live allow the group to use the gray tape instead of the triangles.
The Amish men, who face $100 fines or community service, have said they'll refuse to perform the community service because they'd likely be driven to work sites in motor vehicles, or have to use tools powered by electricity or gasoline.
Levi Zook, 52, who acted as the group's spokesman, said they'll leave the state if they lose the case.
The trial recessed for several weeks to give state transportation officials time to conduct tests to determine the effectiveness of the gray tape.
Prosecutors refused to say whether the Amish would continue to be cited for not using the triangles before the trial resumes, May 23.
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