We have been known to, on occasion, lightly mock the USA, however, this particular story, although amusing and leaning towards the ridiculous, most definitely carries some merit.

It begins with a woman who was caught on video by a mobile phone user when she decided she was in far too much of a hurry to hang around behind a school bus that had stopped, so she drove along the sidewalk (pavement). Now, a judge, after viewing the footage has handed down a ruling that she must hold up a sign that says ‘idiot’ at the intersection.

The rather silly Shena Hardin, who is 32 and from Cleveland pleaded guilty to the offence of not stopping and doing a reckless manoeuvre. The judge at the Cleveland Municipal Court then ordered her driver’s licence to be suspended for 30 days and slapped a 250-dollar fine on top. However, as part of the sentence Hardin was ordered to wear a sign that says, ‘Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid the school bus,’ for an hour a day over two days at the intersection where she committed the offence.

Incredibly, it is alleged that Hardin had performed this manoeuvre several times in the past, but on this occasion a bus driver was ready and managed to record the dangerous driving on a mobile phone. The ruling by the judge has left the community and public as a whole divided on the social networks, with some saying it was a good idea, whilst others are saying that the punishment is too degrading and humiliating for a road traffic offence. We wouldn’t dare to pass judgement (nice one judge!).

(world, news, idiot, driver, USA)