On March 23rd, 2015, Eau Claire County Circuit Court Judge Kristina Bourget held an Amish couple in contempt of court for failure to comply with the Uniform Dwelling Code building permits enacted in Eau Claire County, WI. The Eau Claire County Sheriff's department was ordered to placard-evict the family, Amos and Vera Borntreger and their 4 children (including a baby), and padlock their doors and board up their windows. Two years ago, the Sheriff was ordered to put an elderly Amish couple out of their home for the same reason.

 This is more than just making the Amish put smoke alarms in their newly built homes. The building permit states that the signer understands they are "subject to" the Uniform Dwelling Code. This presents a problem for the Amish community when they build new homes for their growing families because some of the items in the code are strictly prohibited by 300 years of their religious tradition.

 So far, 13 Amish families have been to court for failure to comply with these rules. Amos and Vera's fine for failure to comply is in excess of $42,700. Last summer, Amish families were faced with fines up to $309,500. The Amish live on modest farming incomes and these fines are bankrupting.

 During the last legislative session, the Wisconsin Builder's Association and their lobbyists opposed bipartisan bills that would have given the Amish an accommodation. Currently, legislators such are Rep. Kathleen Bernier and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout are working to create a waiver that would help the Amish. This waiver for religious reasons would provide an exemption from portions of the Uniform Dwelling Code. This would allow the Amish to continue to build their own homes, as they have for hundreds of years.

 Please sign our petition showing support for the Amish community, their religious liberty, and for our legislators to create a waiver to allow a religious exemption to portions of the Uniform Dwelling Code