Amish man goes to jail over orange buggy reflector

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) _ An Amish man chose to spend three days in jail rather than pay a fine for refusing to put an orange ``slow-moving vehicle'' triangle on his buggy because he said the sign

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) _ An Amish man chose to spend three days in jail rather than pay a fine for refusing to put an orange ``slow-moving vehicle'' triangle on his buggy because he said the sign violates his religious beliefs.

Jonas Swartzentruber, 22, belongs to the 11-family Swartzentruber order, which says the Bible prohibits brightly colored belongings.

He was jailed Tuesday after a county judge found him in contempt for not paying $119 from an April 15 citation.

In deference to his beliefs, Swartzentruber will be allowed to wear a blue shirt and pants instead of the usual bright-orange coveralls, deputy warden John Prebish told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.

The sect members claim to be the country's oldest Amish order and strictly adhere to the Amish ideal of being separate from society.

Many Amish in Pennsylvania display the triangles without protest.

Most of the Swartzentruber moved to an area about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh from eastern Ohio in recent years. The triangles are not required in Ohio, and the Swartzentruber were persuaded to use dark reflective tape on buggies there.

Jonas Swartzentruber didn't comment after the hearing. His father, who declined to give his name, said, ``I read my Bible. I can't see where it says to put (the triangle) on. I wouldn't display a triangle on my buggy even if it was only 2 inches high.''