Now this IS funnay!
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PORTAGE, Ind. -- An Indiana judge fed up with teenage traffic violators is kicking them in the seat -- the driver's seat.
Porter Superior Judge Julia Jent is sentencing the ticketed teens to the embarrassment of riding the school bus, if they are found guilty in her courtroom.
Jent got the idea after a girl in her court for a moving traffic violation appeared not to take seriously either the offense or the possible fine.
The judge, who has teenage grandchildren, said she knew she had reached the teen when she ordered her to park her car and ride the school bus and the girl started crying outside her courtroom. With that, she figured she found the right punishment.
Teens not complying will be fined and have their licenses suspended.
Jent also warns parents they could be held in contempt of court if they drive their child to school.
Jent said making teenagers ride the bus also makes them take their driving violations seriously.
Jent sent a memo to every law enforcement agency in her jurisdiction, telling them that all moving traffic citations involving drivers age 16 to 18 must be seen by her. She doesn't want their parents to pay a fine or have teens pay the fine and not tell mom and dad.
If the teens violate the order to ride the bus, their driver's license will be suspended, and a fine must be paid. If they follow the order, the matter is dismissed.
Of the dozen or so teens who were given the school-bus orders so far, one was ordered to nine weeks of school-bus riding. Another had total driving restrictions for an entire semester, according to the North West Indiana Times.
"Oh my God, you would have thought I gave her and her mother the death penalty," Jent told the paper.
The punishment is legal. The state statute allows a judge to place any violator on probationary conditions, including license suspensions.
