Carpool Violator Busted for Trying to Pass Off Realistic Dummy as Passenger

“We’ve gotta give it to them, the appearance is next level," California Highway Patrol said in a statement

One California driver had to learn the hard way that carpool lanes are for people, not plastic.

On Wednesday, April 24, the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Fe Springs office shared a social media post showing how a motorist recently tried to pull a fast one on them by using a dummy as a passenger to avoid heavy traffic.

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“So folks have been asking, ‘If I have a mannequin in the passenger seat, does that count as a second occupant in the vehicle?’ Trying to use the carpool lane with no one else in the car!” the department’s Instagram caption began.

For anyone wondering if one of the oldest tricks in the book actually works, “The answer is simple… NO,” they added.

“We’ve gotta give it to them, the appearance is next level modeling but at the end of the day… plastic is plastic.”

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The CHP’s Santa Fe Springs division shared a photo of the dummy, who was dressed in a black hoodie while wearing a pair of black sunshades.

According to the Instagram post, it actually wasn’t the plastic passenger that caused the unidentified driver to get pulled over in the first place.

“Officer Kaplan made an enforcement stop on this vehicle for crossing solid double lines only to realize the driver was the only occupant in the vehicle with their plastic friend. The goatee was sharp … just a little too sharp,” the caption said.

Many in the comment section chimed in claiming that the mannequin shared an uncanny resemblance to Snoop Dogg.

As for the real person in the vehicle, the department also shared their consequences: “The driver was subsequently issued a citation for multiple carpool violations.”

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“​​🔥🔥That’s fantastic! Good catch CHP👏👏,” one commenter wrote.

Before wrapping up their post, the organization was sure to leave a few tips for drivers so that they could possibly avoid traffic (and violations) by simply being prepared.

“Remember to plan ahead, know your route of travel, and the general challenges of your drive to avoid being in a rush or tempted to push your luck," they wrote, while also encouraging interested prospects to join their team.

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