This was an HOV violation stop from this morning NB I-5 near 145th. Driver admitted this was only to be able to use the HOV lane. The driver also indicated he has not named his “passenger”. #NotReal pic.twitter.com/Aa8xR6p4wK— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) April 29, 2025
The Washington State Patrol said two drivers were caught using dummies to illegally drive in carpool lanes in the space of just a few days.
Trooper Rick Johnson, public information officer for the WSP, said on social media that the first driver was pulled over Tuesday in the high-occupancy vehicle lanes of Interstate 5, near Shoreline, when a trooper noticed the only passenger was a mannequin wearing a brunette wig, a plaid shirt and a scarf.
“Driver admitted this was only to be able to use the HOV lane,” Johnson wrote. “The driver also indicated he has not named his ‘passenger.'”
Johnson said another driver was stopped two days later on I-5 in Federal Way when a trooper suspected a backseat passenger of being fraudulent.
Here’s another one!! This driver was stopped last night for 92 MPH in a 60 zone I5 near 288th. 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. pic.twitter.com/SyLzQbGjZe— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) May 1, 2025
The passenger was found to be a “dummy doll” wearing a bright yellow windbreaker and a baseball cap.
Drivers stopped for incorrectly using HOV lanes in Washington are subject to a $186 fine, with an extra $200 tacked on if the driver is found to be using a dummy or mannequin as a passenger.
