Washington HOV Dilemma: A Dummy, a Clown, and a Double Take

A Washington State  Trooper spotted something freaky going on in the passenger seat of a car in the HOV lane.

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WSP Trooper Spots  Clown in HOV Lane

Technically, you could say that a Washington State Trooper spotted two dummies driving in the HOV lane on I-405 near North 30th Street. One of the 'dummies' was driving the car, and the other was a lifeless clown in the passenger seat. The Trooper spotted the car with both dummies and pulled them over to check the passenger's pulse because their health seemed a little 'scary'. After discovering the grinning freaky clown in the passenger seat was a fake, the Washington State Trooper wrote the other 'dummy' a ticket for expired tabs and a large additional HOV charge violation "with dummy" according to the screenshot from a section of the ticket.

The Cost of Driving with Dummy in the HOV  Lane

In Washington State, HOV lane infractions are taken very seriously and are enforced by the Washington State Patrol. On the WSDOT website, it states that "For a first violation the fine is $186, and all subsequent violations within a two-year period increase to $336". That fine is JUST for people caught in the HOV lane with only 1 person in the car. If a driver is caught with a dummy in the passenger seat trying to fake out police, the driver gets an automatic extra $200 fine added to the original fine. That makes the total fine between $386 and $536 for each offense. What a dummy. You can find out more and answer any questions about HOV lanes and fines at WSDOT.wa.gov. See the WSP Trooper post by clicking here.