Woman sent out with 'idiot' sign as driving punishment
CLEVELAND (AP) - A woman caught on camera driving on a sidewalk to pass a Cleveland school bus that was unloading children stood in the cold Tuesday at an intersection holding a sign warning people about idiots.
A Cleveland Municipal Court judge ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to serve the highly public sentence for one hour Tuesday and Wednesday.
She arrived bundled up against the 34-degree cold, puffing a cigarette, wearing head phones and avoiding comment as passing vehicles honked.
Satellite TV trucks were on hand to stream the event live near downtown Cleveland.
The sign read: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus."
Hardin's license was suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.
Lisa Kelley, whose 9-year-old daughter boards the bus which Hardin had been passing on the sidewalk, said the sentence fit the crime.
"She's an idiot, just like the her sign says," Kelley said as she watched Hardin lean against a fence, her head down and her eyes hidden by dark glasses.
"She did this almost every day last year," Kelley said. "She won't stop laughing. She's not remorseful, she laughed at every court appearance. She's still laughing, so she needs to be humiliated like this."
Kelley said she was only sorry the woman was standing in the cold and not the rain or snow.
Bill Lipold, 37, who works nearby in the blue-collar neighborhood of older homes and factories, yelled "Why do you hate kids" to Hardin.
He hopes the punishment works. "How else are you going to stop her from doing it again? She really didn't show remorse for her action after being caught, so you've got to try something," he asked.
With two schools located with two blocks of the location and busy commuter traffic, the area can be risky for youngsters walking to class, Lipold said.
A Cleveland Municipal Court judge ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to serve the highly public sentence for one hour Tuesday and Wednesday.
She arrived bundled up against the 34-degree cold, puffing a cigarette, wearing head phones and avoiding comment as passing vehicles honked.
Satellite TV trucks were on hand to stream the event live near downtown Cleveland.
The sign read: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus."
Hardin's license was suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.
Lisa Kelley, whose 9-year-old daughter boards the bus which Hardin had been passing on the sidewalk, said the sentence fit the crime.
"She's an idiot, just like the her sign says," Kelley said as she watched Hardin lean against a fence, her head down and her eyes hidden by dark glasses.
"She did this almost every day last year," Kelley said. "She won't stop laughing. She's not remorseful, she laughed at every court appearance. She's still laughing, so she needs to be humiliated like this."
Kelley said she was only sorry the woman was standing in the cold and not the rain or snow.
Bill Lipold, 37, who works nearby in the blue-collar neighborhood of older homes and factories, yelled "Why do you hate kids" to Hardin.
He hopes the punishment works. "How else are you going to stop her from doing it again? She really didn't show remorse for her action after being caught, so you've got to try something," he asked.
With two schools located with two blocks of the location and busy commuter traffic, the area can be risky for youngsters walking to class, Lipold said.
She got off too easy...
My kind of woman.
She is an idiot!!!!! She got off easy!
Obviously this wasn't the first time. Stupid woman should never get her license back!
Finally, a judge with enacting a good sentence. I would have made her wear an orange jumpsuit.
I sincerely hope this woman does NOT have any kids..!
How are you liking all of this attention now, lady?
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@Kushfan Whew, good thing. I don't have the faintest idea where you would register.
The sign read: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus."
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It should have read:Â "The sign read:
"Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus. I AM AN IDIOT!"
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And it should be about 7' high and 4' wide in yellow letters on a red background.
What's wrong with driving on the sidewalk, that's the way they drive in ROME (the last time I was there)?
She got off easy. Revoke her license for a year.
More of the entitlement society.
What is wrong with people today???? She could of kill someone!!! I think she got off way......to easy! She stills thinks it is funny! But if someone hurt someone she loved by doing this crazy thing every school day for a year! She would be the first person to cry foul!!!! People have lost their way in this world!!
 @BlessedLife ~  I agree..!   If somebody else did this same stupid thing, and one of her loved ones was killed, she would probably ALSO be the first one to lawyer up to file a huge lawsuit..!  Â
She should have been ordered to wear a court jesters costume and dance around with her sign.
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Only 250 court cost? WTP
Wow I LIKE this judge.
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Ain't laughing no more huh?
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And if she does it again, make her do this again, only twice as long. Oh and make her not be able to smoke while doing it too.
 @Repoman Taking her smokes away would be a very harsh punishment
 @swimbad  @Repoman But then i couldn't call her a butt sucker.
If you don't like the way I drive stay off the sidewalk!
@sleeplessknight Yeah, what he said! And slide the New Times bin a little closer to the building will ya?
She should also be banned for life from the left lane.
Prolly gets in the fast lane to drive slow too. Off with her head!