Driver bypassed school bus, must wear sign saying 'idiot'
By Stan Donaldson, The Plain Dealer
on November 09, 2012 at 12:04 AM, updated November 09, 2012 at 8:49 AM Email | Print
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A 32-year-old Cleveland woman who admitted driving onto a sidewalk to avoid a stopped school bus was ordered by a judge to stand on a street corner and wear a sign that labels her an "idiot."
(See earlier version of story.)
Cleveland Municipal Judge Pinkey Carr ordered Shena Hardin to stand at East 38th Street and Superior Avenue between 7:45 and 8:45 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with a 22-inch poster that reads: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus."
Hardin pleaded guilty Monday to failure to stop for a school bus. A charge of reckless operation was dropped.
Hardin was charged in September. A school bus in the opposite lane had stopped, as had the car in front of Hardin. To avoid stopping, Hardin veered to the right and onto the sidewalk to get around the stopped car. The bus driver recorded Hardin driving around the bus and contacted police, who also witnessed her passing the bus.
Carr said that Hardin did not appear to be remorseful and that that played a part in her Monday sentencing.
"That is what motivated me as it relates to her sentence," Carr said. "I felt the punishment fit the crime."
Carr also suspended Hardin's license for 30 days and ordered her to pay a $250 fine.
Witnesses said Hardin had driven on the sidewalk, which is also next to a day care center, on several other occasions, Carr said. She said she was surprised the crime was charged as only a misdemeanor because people could have been hurt by her behavior.
Reached by phone Thursday, Hardin said she had no comment.
By Stan Donaldson, The Plain Dealer
on November 09, 2012 at 12:04 AM, updated November 09, 2012 at 8:49 AM Email | Print
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A 32-year-old Cleveland woman who admitted driving onto a sidewalk to avoid a stopped school bus was ordered by a judge to stand on a street corner and wear a sign that labels her an "idiot."
(See earlier version of story.)
Cleveland Municipal Judge Pinkey Carr ordered Shena Hardin to stand at East 38th Street and Superior Avenue between 7:45 and 8:45 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with a 22-inch poster that reads: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus."
Hardin pleaded guilty Monday to failure to stop for a school bus. A charge of reckless operation was dropped.
Hardin was charged in September. A school bus in the opposite lane had stopped, as had the car in front of Hardin. To avoid stopping, Hardin veered to the right and onto the sidewalk to get around the stopped car. The bus driver recorded Hardin driving around the bus and contacted police, who also witnessed her passing the bus.
Carr said that Hardin did not appear to be remorseful and that that played a part in her Monday sentencing.
"That is what motivated me as it relates to her sentence," Carr said. "I felt the punishment fit the crime."
Carr also suspended Hardin's license for 30 days and ordered her to pay a $250 fine.
Witnesses said Hardin had driven on the sidewalk, which is also next to a day care center, on several other occasions, Carr said. She said she was surprised the crime was charged as only a misdemeanor because people could have been hurt by her behavior.
Reached by phone Thursday, Hardin said she had no comment.
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