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9 Amish men in Ky. sentenced to jail in "safety triangle" case

This Amish horse-drawn buggy in Lancaster County, Pa. bears a reflective orange safety triangle similar to the type at the center of the dispute in Graves County, Kentucky Spencer Platt/Getty Images

(CBS/WLKY) MAYFIELD, Ky. - You've undoubtedly heard of the Bermuda triangle... but what about the "Amish triangle"?  In this case, it's in Kentucky.

Nine western Kentucky Amish men who refused to display a bright orange safety triangle on the back of their horse-drawn buggies have been ordered to jail, after they also refused to pay court-imposed fines over the matter, reports CBS affiliate WLKY.

The men, who belong to the strict Old Order Swartzentruber Amish sect, object to the triangles saying the bright color violates their modesty code. They said paying the fines would amount to complying with a law they believe violates their religious strictures.

Graves County District Judge Deborah Hawkins Crooks sentenced the nine Monday to three to 10 days in jail for refusing to pay the fines, WLKY reported.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals in June denied the defendants' appeal on the misdemeanor convictions.


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