Man Charged With Felony DUI While Driving Amish Children
An Amish taxi driver has been charged with DUI while he was transporting several Amish people, including two young Amish children, in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
On stopping the driver, 58-year-old Patrick Allen Reitz Jr., police discovered marijuana in the vehicle, in addition to a strong burnt marijuana smell. Here’s what happened according to the report at Explore Jefferson:
According to a criminal complaint, the incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on January 2 when a Punxsutawney-based State Police corporal observed a red Dodge Ram pickup truck fail to stop at a stop sign on Pike Road before turning onto Route 119, in Henderson Township, Jefferson County.
The corporal noted the driver appeared to accelerate after the officer activated emergency lights.
Upon making contact with the driver, identified as Patrick Reitz, the officer detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the truck, the complaint states.
Reitz reportedly told the officer he did not have his license or registration because he was driving under suspension. When asked why he was driving, Reitz stated he was “trying to make some money,” according to the complaint.
If there was a strong odor of marijuana, you’d think there was a good chance he was smoking it while he had his Amish passengers in the vehicle.
The officer noted that the other occupants in the vehicle were Amish, the complaint continues. While speaking with the occupants, the corporal observed that two children in the back seat, ages 3 and 7, were not sitting in required child safety or booster seats, the complaint states.
The children not being secured in safety seats surprises me less because in my experience Amish parents are not as adamant about securing young children in safety seats, particularly at age seven.
That approach may stem in part from the fact that they don’t use them in their buggies (with exceptions), and I would imagine not all Amish families even have them. That noted, I do have friends who do have and use them, so I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush.
The officer also observed that Reitz was not wearing a seat belt and his eyes appeared bloodshot and watery, the complaint notes.
Reitz allegedly admitted to having marijuana in his pocket and produced a metallic smoking pipe. Two marijuana grinders containing residue were also found in plain view inside the truck, according to the complaint.
With this stop it appears Reitz racked up over a dozen charges, including felony DUI, reckless endangerment, drug charges, and charges related to the children being unrestrained.
What Was Going On Here? Some Thoughts
So the children are highlighted in the headline of the source report, but they were not the only Amish occupants.
Likely they were with one or both parents, and Reitz was probably driving them somewhere local on a relatively short trip, perhaps to another Amish home or on an errand.
If he’s smoking marijuana and taking them on a long distance Amish taxi journey say to another community out of state, then that’s even more odd.
As Amish taxi driver Haley Straw has drawn attention to in her posts on driving the Amish, some Amish passengers are just not as concerned with safety as others.
You also couple that with the lack of available drivers in some cases – they can really be in demand at certain times, and hard to get. That opens the door for people without a valid license who enjoy smoking a joint while driving around paying customers to fill that void.
An Amish family might overlook that because they need a ride and are not in a position to be picky about who takes them somewhere, and in what condition.
They’re dependent on the local pool of available drivers and when they need to go somewhere in a hurry, they take who they can get.
I also would account for the possibility that some Amish people might not be able to recognize the signs and smell of marijuana, though I think many Amish adults aren’t that sheltered or naive about such things.
Driving With Amish Children
If he’s smoking marijuana and fails to stop for a stop sign, what else is he doing?? Or NOT doing?? If he wants to risk killing himself b/c he’s under the influence, that’s his business. But not while driving other people who have no other form of transportation, particularly children. I hope the judge throws the book at him, but I won’t hold my breath.
The reality behind the wheel
Erik, thank you for bringing this to light. It’s a side of the “plain” world that most people never see, but as a driver myself, this hits home.
This story is a perfect storm of three hard truths I see every day on the back roads in Amish country:
First, the driver pool. In many settlements—especially among the low-order Amish I drive—they aren’t in a position to be picky. I know drivers who are ex-cons, on probation, or struggling with past addictions because, frankly, it’s the only job they can get. I’ve seen drivers operating without licenses, registration, or even basic insurance. I’ve even known families who were left stranded on the shoulder because their driver was hauled away by the police mid-trip. When you’re “trying to make some money” like Reitz, safety often takes a backseat to a quick fare.
Second, the safety seats. The lack of boosters in this case doesn’t surprise me. In my experience, many Amish prefer to go seatbelt-less, and their children as well. We had our maxi van registered as a truck, so legally only the two front passengers had to wear seatbelts. Laws can be a confusing gray area that many drivers just ignore to keep the peace.
Finally, the desperation. The demand for drivers is so high that the Amish are often at the mercy of whoever answers the phone. When you need to get somewhere in a hurry, you take who you can get, in whatever condition they, or their van, shows up in.
Amish Drivers
Greetings, Haley . . . Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for telling it like it is. I have Amish & Mennonite friends and acquaintances who live near me. I will be sure to show them your post. And in addition, I will get info. from our state’s DMV/my insurance company/etc. so I can tell (and show) them exactly what sort of ID and paperwork to ask taxi drivers for b4 setting off on their next trip. Maybe they can ask the local Bishops for their permission so that I might conduct a few free classes to let as many Plain folks as possible know what they can/should ask their drivers to produce to prove their road worthiness before they climb aboard. Erik, many thanks for bringing us this story. There really SHOULD be some sort of legislation in EVERY state to protect the Amish from these truly questionable people/practices. After all, if taxi/train/bus/airline workers have to pass written/fitness/other tests and have the proper documentation to transport the English around, why should it be any different for our Amish neighbors??