This was an HOV violation cease from this morning NB I-5 close to 145th. Driver admitted this was solely to have the ability to use the HOV lane. The motive force additionally indicated he has not named his “passenger”. #NotReal pic.twitter.com/Aa8xR6p4wK— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) April 29, 2025
Might 5 (UPI) — The Washington State Patrol stated two drivers had been caught utilizing dummies to illegally drive in carpool lanes within the area of just some days.
Trooper Rick Johnson, public info officer for the WSP, stated on social media that the primary driver was pulled over Tuesday within the high-occupancy automobile lanes of Interstate 5, close to Shoreline, when a trooper observed the one passenger was a model carrying a brunette wig, a plaid shirt and a shawl.
“Driver admitted this was solely to have the ability to use the HOV lane,” Johnson wrote. “The motive force additionally indicated he has not named his ‘passenger.'”
Johnson stated one other driver was stopped two days afterward I-5 in Federal Approach when a trooper suspected a backseat passenger of being fraudulent.
This is one other one!! This driver was stopped final evening for 92 MPH in a 60 zone I5 close to 288th. The motive force was within the HOV lane by himself, and along with his non human companion. He was given a ticket for velocity and driving within the HOV lane w/ a dummy doll. pic.twitter.com/SyLzQbGjZe— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) Might 1, 2025
The passenger was discovered to be a “dummy doll” carrying a vivid yellow windbreaker and a baseball cap.
Drivers stopped for incorrectly utilizing HOV lanes in Washington are topic to a $186 superb, with an additional $200 tacked on if the motive force is discovered to be utilizing a dummy or model as a passenger.

