Woman fined hundred$ for speeding & teddy bear

[Hum]

Yes, that's right, the 19-year-old woman actually tried to drive in the carpool lane with a giant teddy bear in the front seat next to her. The state patrol wasn't having it.

According to The Seattle Times, the teddy bear wasn't the only issue. Authorities say that the woman was driving 14 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Trooper Mark Francis, who pulled her over, tweeted that the woman was also driving without insurance.

There's a reason the bear was sitting in the front seat. Francis told KOMO, "She said she didn't have any room in the back of her minivan for the bear." :huh:

He also said the woman knew she shouldn't have been driving in the carpool lane but never gave an explanation for doing so.

Anchors on the morning shows thought the woman should have played up the situation a bit more.

Dylan Dreyer for NBC said, "At least dress him up a little bit."

Matt Lauer chimed in: "That lady made a little boo boo."

FOX NEWS's Brian Kilmeade queried: "And no seat belt for the bear? Yeah, no seat belt. It's unbelievable! Just count on the air bag."

ABC's Michael Strahan says that "she should have talked to it like it was real."

Okay, that might have been taking things a bit too far. But what's even more bizarre is the exact same thing happened two years ago in Oregon.

Another woman got caught driving in the carpool lane with a teddy bear -- albeit not as large of one -- in her passenger seat.

She told KATU that she thought she might have been able to get away with it until an officer pulled her over and gave her a $260 ticket.

As for the woman in Washington, her fine was a little bigger. She was ticketed $818 for all three alleged offenses.

 

source

[Soldiers33]

whats wrong with having a teddy bear in pass seat? Am I not reading something correct?

[techbeck]

So, fined for no insurance, driving in the incorrect lane, and for speeding.  Sounds about right.

[spacer]

whats wrong with having a teddy bear in pass seat? Am I not reading something correct?

Most likely she had the teddy bear in the front seat to give the impression that she was traveling with another person; therefore, making it legal for her to be in the carpool lane.

 

Since she was driving a minivan, and the story doesn't explain much else, we can assume she had plenty of room in the van for the teddy bear other than the front seat. It's highly unlikely that her putting the bear in the front seat AND driving in the carpool lane (knowing it was just her in the car) is pure coincidence.

[Tigurinn]

whats wrong with having a teddy bear in pass seat?

 

[Hum]

whats wrong with having a teddy bear in pass seat? Am I not reading something correct?

I don't have any friends that look like teddy bears. :p

[Soldiers33]

Sorry what is a carpool lane?

[Tigurinn]

Sorry what is a carpool lane?

 

 

 

 

Basically this - a special lane on the road where only cars that have a driver and at least one passenger can be driven on; if you are the only person in your car (aka the driver) then you have to be on the right side of the special carpool lane on the lower image.

 

My country doesn't have this, but does have special lanes for buses and taxis

[Soldiers33]

Thats stupid? Whats the point? Just has a whole lane being wasted. They have this in Lithuania, and literally only 4 cars used it while other lanes were blocked up.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Sorry what is a carpool lane?

Just to add to what Tigurinn has already said, I believe the initial idea was to cut down on the amount of cars that are on the road during work-commuting hours. If I remember, it was part of the whole "let's go green and cut down on our carbon emissions" plan. Why have 2 cars on the road with each driver going to the same destination when you could have 1 car with 2 people in it?

[spacer]

Just to add to what Tigurinn has already said, I believe the initial idea was to cut down on the amount of cars that are on the road during work-commuting hours. If I remember, it was part of the whole "let's go green and cut down on our carbon emissions" plan. Why have 2 cars on the road with each driver going to the same destination when you could have 1 car with 2 people in it?

This. Except it didn't work, because no one wants to carpool. It's a lot of work to coordinate your schedule with another person and it gets exponentially harder the more people you include. So it really is just an extra lane that is barely used most of the time.

 

The other side of the argument though is that even if this lane was opened up to regular traffic, it wouldn't do much quell traffic congestion, at least in my state. It's kind of a lose-lose situation.

[Rohdekill]

Thats stupid? Whats the point? Just has a whole lane being wasted. They have this in Lithuania, and literally only 4 cars used it while other lanes were blocked up.

 

It wouldn't be "wasted" if people would actually share rides, thus reducing demand on fuel and reducing car exhaust...now wouldn't it?  Unfortunately, the problem is people are expected to do so many things throughout the day and expected to be at various locations throughout the day that such a lane these days is not very practicable.

 

Not every state has this.  Some states have (free) express lanes; a set of lanes designated for cars only to flow in a single direction for a period of time.  Then, flow the opposite direction at other times - reducing congestion.  While other states have an express lane which charges you to bypass congestion.

 

My state only has the two or more occupant lane for metered on ramps.  Once on the highway, all lanes are open.

[LaP]

This. Except it didn't work, because no one wants to carpool. It's a lot of work to coordinate your schedule with another person and it gets exponentially harder the more people you include. So it really is just an extra lane that is barely used most of the time.

 

The other side of the argument though is that even if this lane was opened up to regular traffic, it wouldn't do much quell traffic congestion, at least in my state. It's kind of a lose-lose situation.

There's not much difference with or without to be honest. Having the big bus out of traffic congestion does help. Having one less lane does the opposite. In the end i personally didn't see much of a difference when they added one here. It was not worse nor it was better.

[techbeck]

Thats stupid? Whats the point? Just has a whole lane being wasted. They have this in Lithuania, and literally only 4 cars used it while other lanes were blocked up.

 

Lived in Phoenix and carpool lane was always busy during rush hour.  Non rush hour, the carpool lane is free for anyone. Some states, its a permanent lane regardless the time of day and single passenger cars are not allowed.  Like LA, always PITA traffic.

[francescob]

Isn't the carpool line discriminating against those people who can't fit in a single seat? :O

[Hum]

I thought car pools started in the 70's due to the gas 'crisis' -- saving us from foreign oil dependence.

 

The one bad thing about sharing a ride, is if the co-worker is late, it makes you late. :/