[karajorma]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20252212

A judge in Ohio has come up with an unusual punishment for a dangerous driver.

Shena Hardin will have to hold up a sign saying "only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus" after she did just that.

Witnesses say she used to routinely drive on the pavement to avoid waiting for the school bus as it stopped to pick up and drop off children in Cleveland.

The incident was filmed by someone on the bus using a mobile phone.

Hardin will also lose her licence for 30 days and pay a $250 fine.

I'd seen the footage of her getting caught before and I must say I did cheer a little when the police pulled her over. It wasn't a one off thing either. She did it often enough that they set up a sting to catch her doing it.

[Scotty]

It's unusual, to be sure, but the unusual punishment sticks best, in most cases.  It's also humiliating, but I wouldn't call it cruel.

In a phrase, just desserts.

[karajorma]

Oh absolutely. In fact, I'd say she got off pretty lightly given that she could have completely lost her licence rather than just getting it suspended for 30 days. That's why I said it's best not to argue for a less unusual sentence.

[BrotherBryon]

Wow that is a light sentence but nice to see that some judges have a sense of humor.  Around here that would have been at least a reckless driving charge which can mean up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. She probably wouldn't have gotten the max as that is usually reserved for those who are going 20 mph or more over the speed limit.

[Flipside]

It's certainly a novel approach that hadn't been covered in the kidnapping thread Whilst it was not her first 'offence' when she was arrested, I think as a first sentence it was quite a good idea. That said, that young lady had better be damn-well certain that she doesn't get stopped for any traffic violation for a considerable amount of time.

Humiliation can be an effective punishment in very specific cases, but, as the Joe Arpaio case proved, the form of it should it be used, should not be left in the hands of Law Enforcement.

[Klaustrophobia]

In NC, passing a stopped school bus is just about the worst driving offense you can get short of vehicular manslaughter.  Multiple offenses and mounting the sidewalk to do it, I'm kindof surprised there's not some jail time.

[MP-Ryan]

I want to meet that judge, because I honestly think that's the best creative-sentence court order I've ever seen =)

EDIT:  Is there a reason that every *&%$ing BBC News video gives me a "media request failed" error?!  For a world news agency, I'm becoming rapidly unimpressed.  Googling it, it seems a few people have this problem.  The BBC intro video plays beforehand but the actual media piece doesn't.

[Luis Dias]

Really? I've seen a whole documentary about America's latest fad on "humilliating" sentences exactly like this one. I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but between that and just sending people to jail, well.