LAWRENCE COUNTY — Road damage and public safety concerns related to horse-drawn buggies took center stage during Tuesday morning’s Lawrence County Commissioners’ meeting, as resident Evan Hunter called on officials to address ongoing issues on county roadways.
Hunter addressed the commissioners to highlight severe pavement degradation in Shawswick Township, pointing to Stumphole Bridge Road as the newest location impacted by horse hooves and steel buggy wheels.
“Stumphole Bridge Road is the latest victim of the Amish destruction,” Hunter said during the meeting. He noted that several other nearby thoroughfares—including Gunsmith Road, Tunnelton Road, and Pinhook Road—have suffered similar wear and tear.
“What can we do to minimize that?” Hunter asked, urging the county to take proactive steps. “We need to explore options to minimize the damage.”
As a potential solution to mitigate physical damage to asphalt and chip-seal roads, Hunter suggested that the county consider rubber horseshoes mandatory for horse-drawn vehicles traveling on public roads.
Addressing the financial aspect of road repairs, Commissioner President Jeff McKnight acknowledged that while members of the local Amish community do pay an annual county buggy tax, those funds fall short of covering the full cost of repairing the ongoing damage caused to county infrastructure.
Safety Concerns and Legal Precedent
Beyond physical road damage, Hunter raised concerns regarding nighttime visibility and road safety, noting that many buggies operate without electric lights or reflective Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems.
“It’s a safety hazard,” Hunter stated. “If I did that, I would be pulled over and receive a citation.”
Commissioner Wally Branham explained that many Amish residents in Lawrence County belong to conservative Old Order Amish affiliations whose religious doctrines prohibit the use of certain modern reflective materials or battery-powered lighting systems.
Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day, who has researched legal avenues and statutory precedents regarding buggy safety enforcement, echoed Branham’s assessment.
“Unfortunately, in every incident where a county has tried to enforce lights and signage, the Amish have sued and won every case,” Sheriff Day informed the board. “Legal precedent shows government agencies can’t make them do that.”
