Sneaky drivers use fake passengers in carpool lane, WA cops says. See the tricks
Two drivers tried to trick troopers while driving in the carpool lane with fake passengers on a Washington highway, authorities say.
But their ploys didn’t work.
The first driver was caught April 29 going northbound on Interstate 5 near Shoreline, Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A trooper discovered a “female passenger,” but it was actually a dummy doll with brown hair dressed in a checkered button-up with a red scarf, Johnson said.
The driver told the trooper he used the doll to sneak into the HOV lane, Johnson said.
Then the next day, another driver was pulled over on I-5 in Federal Way for having a suspicious passenger, Johnson said in a May 1 post on X.
This “person” was buckled up in the backseat with a neon sweatshirt and a hat.
“The driver was in the HOV lane by himself, and with his non human companion. He was given a ticket for speed and driving in the HOV lane w/ a dummy doll,” Johnson said in the post.
Shoreline and Federal Way are both suburbs of Seattle.
Drivers ticketed for HOV violations
Drivers caught in HOV lanes without passengers can face fines.
In Washington, HOV lanes are “reserved for carpools, vanpools, buses, and/or other vehicles carrying multiple people,” according to the state transportation department.
Typically, a vehicle must have two occupants to drive in the lane, but three occupants may be required depending on the area, officials said.
The lane is designed to give vehicles with multiple people inside an advantage on roadways.
If a driver uses the lane incorrectly for the first time, they get a $186 fine, transportation officials said. But an extra $200 can be added to the ticket if a driver uses a dummy or mannequin as a passenger.
