WISCONSIN - A former Metro Transit bus driver who took an unruly passenger for a ride on the outside of his bus has chosen to spend time in jail rather than go on probation for a disorderly conduct conviction.

Kris S. Burke, 32, informed Dane County Circuit Judge Patrick Fiedler in a letter received Monday that he will turn down probation in favor of the jail sentence.

At a hearing on July 31, Fiedler had given Burke a choice of 10 days in jail or one year of probation, which would end once Burke had completed 80 hours of community service.

At his sentencing hearing, Burke said he did not want to be on probation so that he could leave Madison and look for work elsewhere.

Burke was angry at passenger Michael Cooper on July 29, 2007, after learning that Cooper had urinated inside the bus. When Cooper tried to reboard the bus later, Burke would not let him on, prompting Cooper to jump onto the front bumper. He hung on as Burke drove for 73 seconds at up to 34 miles per hour.

Burke was fired from his job. Cooper was never charged or cited for his actions.