Amish Taxi Driver Admits to Illegally Operating After Killing Ohio Motorcyclist
Did you know that there are Amish taxi drivers? That’s only one of the shocking facts related to one driver who admitted to having an illegal business. The Amish taxi driver had a suspended license when he hit a motorcycle rider in Ohio.
Amish taxi driver kills motorcyclist in Ohio with suspended license
An Amish taxi driver, known as 48-year-old Matthew Claar, is going to jail for vehicular homicide. He struck a motorcycle rider known as Joseph “Joey” Plotts in October.
According to the police report, Plotts was struck from behind on his Honda Goldwing Motorcycle on Route 528 around 11:11 AM.
At the time, Claar had three active license suspensions but decided to get in his car anyway. He was trying to make a living as an Amish taxi driver to afford medication for his mother despite the license suspension.
But Claar has an extensive criminal record stretching back to 1996. The charges include disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, aggravated menacing, petty theft, criminal trespassing, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, domestic violence, littering, and driving under suspension.
Claar was sentenced to 18 months in prison for vehicular homicide. I’m no expert on the law, but that seems like a light charge.
According to Geauga Maple Leaf, the Plotts family would like to see law changes for Amish taxi drivers. Amish folks can’t actually drive, though. They may hire non-Amish friends or neighbors to drive them around.
They must have licenses and certificates to legally operate. Plus, drivers must have proper insurance and business registrations. Of course, they must follow all traffic laws.
