Washington Drivers Busted Using Mannequins In HOV Lanes

In a string of incidents that sounds more like a sitcom than real life, Washington State troopers recently pulled over not one, but two drivers for trying to sneak into the carpool lane using mannequins dressed up as human passengers.

The first incident happened on Tuesday on Interstate 5 near Shoreline. A trooper noticed something odd about the front-seat “passenger” riding shotgun. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a mannequin donning a brunette wig, plaid shirt, and scarf, clearly dressed for deception.

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

“Driver admitted this was only to be able to use the HOV lane,” said Trooper Rick Johnson, the public information officer for Washington State Patrol, in a post on social media. “The driver also indicated he has not named his ‘passenger.'”

Two days later, on the same interstate in Federal Way, another driver was stopped after a trooper became suspicious of a very still passenger in the back seat. Turns out, it was another dummy, this one decked out in a bright yellow windbreaker and a baseball cap.

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

Under Washington law, improperly using the HOV lane will cost drivers $186. But if you go the extra mile and use a fake person to fool the system, you’re hit with an additional $200 fine. That’s a total of $386 for trying to be clever with a mannequin.

Apparently, even your dummy needs a valid reason to be in the carpool lane.