A strict order of Amish in Kentucky continue in their effort to have the state's courts recognize an exemption to vehicle safety laws on religious freedom grounds. Nine Amish men (including two as recently as October ) have already been convicted of refusing to apply bright safety triangles to their horse-drawn buggies, claiming the requirement violates their tenets of modesty and muted colors. Now, following a state appeals court ruling rejecting their argument , the state's Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case.
The Amish men — represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky — say the Kentucky Constitution grants broader freedom of religion than the federal constitution and should allow alternatives to laws that burden religious groups.
“We’re pleased that the court has agreed to hear this important case,” said ACLU lawyer William Sharp. “We are hopeful that the Court will agree that the Kentucky Constitution properly limits government from imposing unnecessary restrictions on individuals’ religious liberty when there are reasonable alternatives that do not substantially burden religious freedom.”
