Kentucky Law Changed to Accommodate Amish Buggies

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Amish are now exempt from a longstanding requirement that they attach orange signs to their horse-drawn buggies.

Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill into law Wednesday that allows the Amish to use reflective silver or white tape on their buggies rather than the traditional slow-moving-vehicle emblems that they objected to on religious grounds.

Several Amish farmers in western Kentucky had served jail time for refusing to use the emblems. They said the triangular shape represents the Trinity, which they are not allowed to display, and that the fluorescent orange calls undue attention to them against the norm of their religion.

Beshear and lawmakers were left to weigh religious rights against traffic safety in implementing the law that went into effect immediately.