Police crackdown concerns Amish community Save Email Print
"Amish taxis" targeted
Posted: 5:20 PM Apr 11, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:28 AM Apr 12, 2008
 Reporter: Mark Peterson
Email Address: mpeterson@wndu.com
127 comments
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This may be as close as it gets to widespread lawlessness involving the Amish community.

"I wasn't sure that they even regulated Amish taxi services,” said Amy Howard, of a company called Rural Taxi.

While the Amish are traditionally known for traveling by horse and buggy, that’s not their only method of going places.

“Some horses and buggies can only travel 30-miles round trip a day,” said Howard.

Howard said her typical run at Rural Taxi involves taking “five or six (Amish) families at a time” to Wal-Mart.

But there is no such thing as ‘typical’ lately. Howard was among the taxi drivers recently ticketed by an Indiana State Police crackdown on Amish taxis.

“They (the Amish) are distraught over this because they're having a hard time finding drivers if they want to go somewhere,” said Maynard Graber, who has provided Amish taxi services for 10-years. “The ones (taxis) that are not compliant are scared to go out…afraid of being ticketed.”

A meeting on the subject today in Shipshewana drew a standing room only crowd of 300-plus concerned citizens.

“Since the first of the year they've only made I think eight stops, eight inspections,” said Indiana State Senator Robert Meeks, a Republican from Lagrange. Meeks added that police have made arrests in those inspections.

The enforcement efforts apparently often left the Amish passengers stranded at the scene of the citation.

Now the Indiana State Police have decided to pull in the reigns. The Superintendent has authorized a moratorium on their Amish taxi enforcement efforts.

“We're going to give these folks a chance, we're going to give them 45-days to try and get everybody in
in get their ducks in a row so to speak,” said Sgt. Rodger Popplewell. The drivers have until the first of June to obtain the proper permits and licenses required by state law.

Some drivers say they weren’t even aware of some of the rules now being enforced by the state police.

While it appears the rules have been on the books for years, it appears that they haven’t been strictly enforced.

The driver of a 9-to-15 passenger van must have a chauffer’s license and a state business license.

They must also have a federal DOT number, and carry $1.5 million in liability insurance coverage.

Maynard Graber has been driving his Amish taxi for 10-years, although he wonders if he can afford to comply with the rules.

“I don't have the $3,000 dollars or more because our insurance is jumping from $1,000 a year, to $3,000 a year,” said Graber.

Graber said he receives disability payments and sees the taxi work as a part time job that helps support his family.
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Posted by: Don Milton Location: Arizona on May 10, 2008 at 07:54 PM
We shouldn't be concerned about Seat belt laws in buggies unless we're going to ban motorcycles from the highways as well. Someone can get on a motorcycle and ride sixty miles per hour down the freeway with their child sitting behind them yet a person in a safer vehicle, a car or even a horse drawn buggy must wear a seatbelt? BUT, I did find it hypocritical for one of the Amish drivers to complain about licensing fees when he's not supposed to be driving anyway, he's on disability!
Posted by: Pat Hall Location: Missouri on May 8, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I am appalled that our families and children hanve to ride in car seats and use seat belts,and pay road taxes,yet the Amish can use our roads and transport their families in unsafe conditions and ignore laws, all in the name of religion.. Religion has nothing to do with laws. They can hire drivers and or use their transportation on their own land.....
Posted by: Larry Location: Ohio on May 8, 2008 at 02:10 AM
The one thing that has been overlooked are the vast numbers of Amish children that are transported without any restraining devices,(car seats. When the parents see a police vehicle the children are told to lay on the floor and hide. The innocents need to be protected.
Posted by: go ISP! on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
for all of you who are having trouble differentiating the two-this is not about the Amish! it is simply about regulating a law that has been left lax far too long. give me one reason why these taxis should not have to have a special liscense, ins, etc., because you 'feel bad for the Amish'??! i mean seriously, c'mon, how does that make sense? what if all the city transportation was allowed to get by w/out following the stated laws, but the 'Amish' taxis were paying their dues for years now? it's not the Amish who are being required to step it up or getting 'picked on'. it's these so-called 'doing them a favor, while i pocket the cash that i'm proly not goin to turn in for taxes' peeps that have a change coming! and rightly so!
Posted by: Sounds like Obama on Apr 21, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I will provide free transportation to anyone that needs it. Change will be good for everyone.
Posted by: Todd Location: Mishawaka on Apr 19, 2008 at 09:37 PM
The little guy is getting pushed around...hardly! These people have knows for quite a while and continue to try and get around the laws, even now that it went public. They know exactly what they are doing. Any vehicle for hire MUST have permits, period. The law has been around for years upon years. They have all lied to their insurance companies and not disclosed that their vehicle is used for commercial use (the insurance companies know Indiana laws also and would not of covered under a personal policy). Want to make a buck..do it honestly.
Posted by: Tom Location: Leesburg on Apr 19, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Years ago I lived and worked in Nappannee and it was common knowledge that some people were making a killing driving the Amish around in their vans. I had neighbors that did it and it was suggested to me that I could make a lot of easy money if I bought an old van and did the same. The figures given me where in the upper hundreds per week-BACK THEN. So I can't buy any sob stories about these poor taxi drivers. Most of them have been milking the system for years and all that happened is they finally got caught.
Posted by: Joe Location: Waky on Apr 19, 2008 at 06:57 AM
These van drivers make a killing driving the Amish i know people that have quit their jobs for this . And by the way yes its all tax free money and yes the drivers will wait for them to shop i would sit on my ass smoke cigarettes if i got paid for it! I have also seen that it is still going on just using smaller vans now pretty sly.
Posted by: Michael Location: South Bend on Apr 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM
WANT AD: Looking for trolls to collect tolls at Indiana bridges. Easy work, base salary plus commission. No oversight, must be a self-starter. Great advancement opportunity into any government position.
Posted by: Dan Location: Mishawaka on Apr 18, 2008 at 06:40 AM
I wonder if the taxie owners and drivers pay Social Security, Medicare, State and Federal taxes on their earnings like I do in my small business.
Posted by: M Location: V on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Ernie, that's the only way you can have two yatches these days. If it were up to me there'd be a yatch in every hard worker's yard.
Posted by: Ernie Location: Granger on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:54 AM
After reading all of this...I would say...SOMEBODY who wants to make HUGE bucks...is mad at somebody making bucks..and he has a friend who works in Law. But the little guy who is doing a good service is gonna be pushed out. Just like the Mom and Pop stores.
Posted by: M Location: V on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:47 AM
insert [expensive] into last post. mom, Graber only has to report $900 or less if that's the law. It's an all cash business and he's obviously licensed and able to work if what you say is true. It makes me udderly sick when people go to bat for people milking the system. Especially someone yanking on two udders at the same time.
Posted by: M Location: V on Apr 17, 2008 at 07:47 AM
You're right drivingfool, it's too much work and it's too to make sure the driver is healthy and the van is in good condition. The same thing should apply to the six seaters Cape Air flies. They don't need no stinking licenses. If the Amish want to pay for someone else to do something they can't do due to religious beliefs, don't you think they'd pay the extra money if they had too...if our laws were enforced. Law enforcement needs to be consistant, otherwise we'll end up with 9 million unlicensed cab drivers that we can't get rid of.
Posted by: mom on Apr 17, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Yes Mr. Graber is disabled but he can make up to 900 dollars a month.He has his dot# he has his cdl If you can live on 1000 dollars a month tell me how.I agree some of those drivers should not be out there driving,I've had near misses with car and truck drivers.So it's not just the van drivers its everybody.What if you hit a van do you have enough insurance? If you hit one its the same amount of people involved.So you should have a million and a half to.By the way does any body know of an agent that can write that up because here in In.there is no one that's allowed to write one up.(ins policy) Mr Graber has talked to a lot of them.They either can't write it up or they never heard of it. Rob are the amish not allowed to buy toilet paper and stuff like that?
Posted by: Rob Location: Elkhart on Apr 16, 2008 at 06:45 PM
I guess they should just ride goats around, or are there laws against that? Besides, what do they need at Walmart anyway...extension cords for their camouflaged generators? I thought these people were supposed to be self-sufficient?
Posted by: drivingfool Location: nappanee on Apr 16, 2008 at 06:01 PM
look, i CURRENTLY CARRY a CDL class license. and, i have had SEVERAL run-in's with police. is there any doubt that they are known across the nation as "auxillary revanue agents"???? while SOME of the people drive amish for high profit, most are just trying to skimp-by, or be competative with eachother. yes, i drove amish for a short time in-between jobs once. i now have 3 years driving an 18-wheeler, and have seen more of the country than most care to. if you require each of these people to get a DOT#, and CDL, they will also need to pass a special physical every other year (@ $120 a pop)! then there's also the DOT grade inspections for the vehicle and paperwork that HAS to be kept SO METICULOUSLY... for those that take multiple people across state lines, that MAY NOT BE a bad idea. but if they are only running within the county, and the profit margins aren't that high, that could KILL the niche business people! that is, PROVIDING they pass the physical. if they're disabled, well....
Posted by: DJ Location: SB on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:38 PM
All I have to say is "you must be joking". I guess the Amish are easier targets than the gan bangers in the hood. This is the only possible explaination for this nonsense. To all of you Amish taxi drivers, try this. How about just giving your friends, who happen to be Amish, a ride to Walmart or anyplace else they want to go. In return, for being such good friends, they throw you a couple of bucks for gas money. This way it can't be considered a business. Just a thought.
Posted by: nedreck billhilly Location: skool on Apr 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM
joe's dictionary: realy = slang for "I am an idiot ", rhymes with smelly chk = what Amish rite at the wallymartz YATCH = Amish kanue buisness = Amish bus ya' all = billhilly for "you" amish = billhilly for "Amish" wally-world = Amish Walmart doodoo = what joe is full of CRYBABY's = anyone smarter than joe dummie = CRYBABY flappy = dummie
Posted by: paul Location: at work on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:12 AM
One item I have not seen being discussed here is the question if these drivers are healthy enough to pass DOT physicals. Will they have to pass a DOT physical? I hope so!! I have been in several near misses with these illegal taxi drivers who apparently could not see that they were on the wrong side of the road or see that they just passed a stop sign. If you are so disabled that I am paying your support then my guess is that you would not pass a DOT physical and that you are not paying income taxes on your income or you would loose your SSI. As far as insurance is concerned, someone made the comment here that the Amish have their own insurance. Amish DO NOT have insurance. In a recent accident involving one of these taxies, when the driver's insurance company paid out the policy's maximum, the injured people, their families and neighbors were left to pay the remaining bills. THAT is why the law is there - TO PROTECT the passengers. This is not harassing the Amish - but PROTECTING them from unscrupulous people operating illegal businesses that do not pay their taxes!
Posted by: M Location: V on Apr 16, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I don't believe this is ignorance of the law. It's skirting the law in an all cash business. They know what they are doing and there should be no grace period. The Amish should just hire someone with a cell phone to go with them until these people get legal. And, right-on Howard, Graber is taking money from the people because he told us he can't work, then he is working and, guaranteed, he's not paying us taxes on what he's earning from the Cult. To the Brimstone!
Posted by: ND Fan Location: ND on Apr 16, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Joe, what's a YATCH? The article states they are cracking down on the drivers, not the Amish. So all you Amish-huggers, chill out! If the driver got into an accident and hurt these Amish, shouldn't he have the right insurance to cover the costs? Or would you cover it for him? I think not. I like the Amish as much as the next person, but the people that drive them around should not get any extra breaks...
Posted by: Jen Location: here and there on Apr 16, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Hey everyone! Here is the information that the BMV gives on their website regarding licenses. Educate yourself before you mis-speak and misspell. http://www.in.gov/bmv/3460.htm
Posted by: howard Location: rochester on Apr 16, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Mr.Graber recieves disability payments but he has a job? Social security should imvestigate this guy!!!!
Posted by: steamed on Apr 16, 2008 at 07:21 AM
the drivers do have ins .they just dont know why they have to have millon and one half dollars worth unless its for drivers like you that dont have any,besides the amish have their own ins too oh by the way I don;t drive a buggy.How would you like to be told to change your lifestyle mitch I know joe he has his cdl and the bmv doesn't know all their stuff either.The drivers of those other taxie have all their stuff in order because the company they work for pays for it it does not come out of their pocket
Posted by: Mitch Location: Mishawaka on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Joe, how old are you? Good grief. Yes the laws have been on the books for years. It is not the states job to tell them, it is the van drivers jobs to check on permits just like any other business owner. Ignorance is not an excuse to ignore the law. The info is out there on the BMV web site. The license is fairly easy to get and it has pretty valuable information for people who might drive larger vehicles such as vans for hire.
Posted by: hey steamed from LaGrange on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Are you saying you'd be fine with paying all of your own legal costs and medical bills if one of those Ammo-busses crushed your "buggy"? DIDN'T THINK SO! Maybe you'd be happier sueing each rider individually- which is how it is done. NO? I DIDN'T THINK SO, EITHER! So take a deep breath and shake the bubble back into place. You're ranting was barely comprehensible, and not worth the effort to decipher. The Amish have the choice to make, and they can just as easily face reality (that they DON'T live separately) and buy their own cars, as pitch in and support their favorite "bus". I have to pay if I want a taxi(a regular one which they could also call), and the cab that shows up when I call has to have the proper licensing and registration, too-even if he's only trying to make money to feed his family or pay the rent on an apartment. And, you know, he just might have a few med bills, too, Denny-as if the type of expenses a person has (or their age) justifies violating the law.
Posted by: Mitch Location: Mishawaka on Apr 15, 2008 at 05:52 PM
This is not a new law. It's been around for years. The problem is that the private insurance these people carry will not cover the occupants of the vans since they are for hire. The state does not get rich off of these permits and honestly is looking out for the Amish then trying to hurt them. Most of these drivers would be dropped if the insurance knew they were doing this.
Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:53 PM
How do the police know that these Amish are being taxied or not? Are you telling me that they're pulling over every van-load of Amish folks, just to check? Sounds a little unconstitutional to me...
Posted by: to Barry from Mesa Location: Indiana on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Hey Barry I'm guessing they have alot of peyote out there too.
Posted by: jerry Location: indiana on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:32 PM
I sure hope the Amish aren't shopping a Walmart and buying all the imported junk they sell. Amish should know better.
Posted by: steamed Location: LaGrange on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I dont know why you people think the amish have all sorts of money they have bills just like the rest of us.And the van drivers dont make lots of money if someone wants to give the drivers 5000 dollars to get legal i'd like to hear from you.Do any of you have that kind of money laying around.didn't think so. I think it says something about pro taxes being cut,sale tax go up and know this=money for Govt.
Posted by: to joe Location: SB on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Are you a product of some back woods type of school system?
Posted by: anony Location: Nappanee on Apr 15, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Mr Joe, you should be the one to check the facts, as I did, B-4 you put your 2cents in. Do you honestly think someone is going to haul a load of Amish to Walmart for $40. Then sit there for however many hours it takes for them all to get there shopping done? Do you honestly think they would spend all that money on those big vans and the gas to fill them for that? Wake up ROCKET EXPERT, and get some facts B-4 you open "flappy mouth". If they did not do their research before starting a business and see what is required then shame on them, no grace period.Get a life JOE
Posted by: Heidi Location: Nappanee on Apr 15, 2008 at 02:00 PM
First, I actually enjoy living with the Amish. Nappanee isn't fast paced and it's because of the Amish. It slows things down. Second, I do agree that there should be a regulation just as taxi drivers in downtown So Bend have to have. I think these taxi services are wonderful for them to get where they need to go and they are willing to pay a pretty penny for the service. These services can make the money back real quickly. BUT, to leave them on the side of the road is uncalled for. Come on! Why do they have to suffer for it?
Posted by: b Location: goshen on Apr 15, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Why must all drivers of 15 passenger vans have a chauffer's license? Some people have large families and that is their mode of transport. Why should they have to have different licenses just because they have a large family? A side note, why can't people spell any better than they do in this public forum???? Sad society we live in!
Posted by: J Location: Plymouth on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:45 PM
"The driver of a 9-15 passenger van must have a chauffer's license" not a CDL-they are 2 different types of licenses.
Posted by: hoosier by choice Location: Monterey on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Maybe Wal-Mart should get their own taxi and pay all the permits and hire a driver to haul these folks to Wal-Mart to do their shopping and take them back to their buggy when they are done...This way they can have all the money there is to get. The taxi services should have to be legal...Like it or not if they are making as much as I suspect they CAN afford it.They just do not want to part with the $$$$ Leave the ISP alone they are working for their paycheck just like everyone else, and I bet the taxi drivers are making more money than they are....
Posted by: Ernie Location: Granger on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Yes..I get the point. The government has been profiling for awhile. Blacks.. then they hit the Catholic priests..then they hit some big time preacher based in Chicago...then they hit the West Texas Mormans...locally its the Amish, because they cant suck as much money as they want out of the Amish. Just like the Mormans live self sustained lives...not dependent on our government or gorvernment related monoplolies..the Amish are a target. And dont try and make me swallow the safety issues of insurance. The reason these people can haul the Amish around without that type of insurance is because the Amish aren't greedy like regular folk and they wouldnt go sueing the pants off of somebody if they we're involved in an accident. The Amish would get medical treatment...forgive and move on. Like it ought to be. But everybody else is out for a buck.
Posted by: joe Location: LaGrange on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Mr. ANNOY, I see your one of those that opened your mouth B-4 you know the fact's, the fact's are that it is not 1.00 p/mile p/person, use your head dummie!!! it mean's $1.00 p/mile for the whole load, see joker it don't take a ROCKET EXPERT to figure that one out. like i said B-4 get your fact's (duck's) in a row B-4 you open flappy mouth!!! also you keep calling them ILLEGAL taxi's, Ya' need to realize these law's were hidden in the book's till about 2 mo's ago, so Ya' still think they don't deserve a grace period so they can the permit's they need??? WAKE-UP PEOPLE AND GET A LIFE!!!
Posted by: Mabel Location: in support of law&order on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:19 AM
A business is a business is a business. These taxi drivers aren't toting Amish to Walmart as a favor, nor do they do it 'cause it's on their way. They receive good money from WEALTHY people. Hey, I was a local loan clerk for years-I know most of those people look simple, but, mostly, they carry a HUGE bank account. If they can't afford to pay a realistic price for their modern, up-to-date trip to "WorldlyBargains", maybe they should review their hypocritical rules and make a few reasonable changes. If these same drivers wanted to tote your precious little BigBird huggers, you'd have a screaming, drooling fit to find they weren't toeing this same line. And this doesn't usually affect "soccer moms and freindly trips" because they usually AREN'T carrying 8 passengers. Ever see one of those buses? Not a little thing at all. So, Gramps can make a few bucks taxi-ing. Or baking, or sewing, or setting up web pages, but follow the laws, like everyone else, cause ALL businesses are regulated.
Posted by: anony Location: Nappanee on Apr 15, 2008 at 08:28 AM
I agree alot of people are missing the point. It is the people who are profiting big time from these services that need to be following the laws when operating a business, that is what it is. These drivers make alot of money driving the Amish. One I know of charges $1 a mile per person. 15 people is $15 a mile X say 40 miles round trip to walmart = $600, not bad for a days work huh. And some charge more than that. So If they want to run a business they should have to follow the laws before running it no extra days to comply. Illegal is illegal, should we all be able to have 45 days to comply with the speed limit if stopped for speeding, really come on now.
Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 at 06:13 AM
You people are missing the point. The ISP are not cracking down on the Amish. They are cracking down on ILLEGAL taxi services.
Posted by: Barry Location: Mesa Arizona on Apr 14, 2008 at 09:37 PM
It's the state trying to grab off some of the money the drivers are making. Very few Amish in Mesa Arizona but we have a bunch of Walmarts.
Posted by: b Location: goshen on Apr 14, 2008 at 09:04 PM
I'm not understanding this, so tell me....if you have a 15 passenger van you have to have a CDL to drive it? Since when? Am I reading that right? I also think the ISP need something better to do...go catch the REAL criminals...like the gangs that keep blasting everything with graffiti or the drunk drivers, murderers, drug dealers....the ones that are out there actually being a menace and danger to society. Are taxi drivers that aren't following the books that big of deal in the world we live in???? Go fight real crime! I do want to know about the 15 passenger van thing though....I'm cur