J.D. Wright
Daily Egyptian
Imagine a police officer calling in that he had just pulled over a brown quarter horse leading an old black buggy with the license plate number PHH 13987.
Now this can be possible. A new state law gives local officials the ability to tax and issue license plates for anyone with a buggy.
"I've never clocked a buggy," said Tim Shadwell, a police officer from Arcola. "They don't go very fast."
One reason the law was made an option for local law enforcers is that horses that draw buggies wear a type of horseshoe that tears up roads.
Even though it contradicts their whole lifestyle, Amish farmers seem to understand fully why they are being taxed.
"The horses seem to tear up the sides of the roads," said Conrad Wentzel, a Mennonite who works for the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center located in Arcola. "But everyone in the town is all right with the tax and they understand."
This is not the only law the Amish drivers had to face. About two decades ago, the Amish had to put a reflective triangle on the back of their buggies so that passing motorists would safely see them.
Illinois is just catching the trend of this law. Some counties in Indiana are required to have licenses on the back of their buggies. But the Amish in the town of Arcola do not seem to disagree with the law.
"The Amish bishop seems to feel positive about the whole experience," Wetzel said. "I know the Amish leaders of the town do too."
But does the license plate law in Illinois contradict the Amish way of life?
The Amish do wear homemade cloths and basically make everything they use. But the Amish are allowed to use modern technology under certain circumstances. For instance, if an Amish family owns a business, it is OK for them to have a phone, but the phone has to be outside the building, and they cannot have a phone in their home.
As for a car or motorized vehicle? Not likely. That is why they ride a horse and buggy.
But the license law helps to protect the safety and well being of the Amish community. Before, if someone got into an accident, the police would not know the person in the buggy or have any way to communicate with family members. With the licenses, police could scan the license and find out who exactly the person or persons are.
"I've dealt with buggies before, but only when they get into accidents. It's always with cars," Shadwell said. "As for the licenses on the buggies, it's a great idea."
J.D. Wright can be reached at jdwright@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
