Illegal school bus passings are no joke, and one Ohio judge was not laughing when he ordered a woman who passed a school bus by driving on the sidewalk, to wear a sign in public that says she’s an idiot.
The judge’s sentence is prompting hundreds of comments on social media. While some agree with the unique sentencing, others argue the punishment is too degrading for such a violation.
The woman, a 32-year-old from Cleveland, plead not guilty in September to charges of not stopping for a school bus and reckless operation. On Monday, Shena Hardin plead out in order to avoid facing a trial. The judge suspended her license for 30 days, and she also must pay a $250 fine. But that wasn’t all.
As part of her sentence, Hardin must wear a sign that says, “Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid the school bus” for an hour a day for two days next week at the intersection where the incident occurred, according to news reports.
Hardin was arrested on Sept. 11 after a veteran school bus driver noticed her drive around the school bus several times and recorded one incident on his cellphone camera. Then, local law enforcement set up a sting operation. Also according to news reports, a portion of the sidewalk she used to avoid the bus was the entrance to a day care.
“We had a very conscientious driver for 30 years. He really cares about his children and he took the extra step that this doesn’t happen again,” Cleveland Metropolitan School District Bus Manager Eric Taylor told a local news station.
One local news station reporter made an attempt to speak with Hardin after the judge’s ruling, but only could speak with a family member. She claimed the Sept. 11 event was the first time Hardin pulled that stunt, but a neighbor told the reporter that the woman had been doing the same thing for quite some time.
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Editor’s Note: What do you think about the Ohio judge’s “Idiot sign” sentencing? Have you heard of other sentences similar to Hardin’s? Let us know by sending us a note at ryan@stnonline.com or sylvia@stnonline.com.
