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Inflatable dolls don't qualify for HOV lanes

An inflatable "passenger"
Washington State Patrol
An inflatable "passenger"

An alert Washington State Patrol officer noticed something a little odd about the passenger in a car using the HOV lane in Federal Way Wednesday morning. "She" was an inflatable doll wearing a wig.

The trooper says the car quickly pulled out of the carpool lane as soon as it came into view.  Looking at the car, it was obvious that the passenger was a doll. 

The inflatable friend was buckled into the front passenger seat (wouldn't want to be ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt!), leaning to the right side and covered by a blanket to make it look like a sleepy commuter. Offering only an apology for his behavior, the driver was cited $124 dollars for violating the HOV lane.

I've been on road trips with people who were full of hot air, but....

Dave Meyer has been anchoring KNKX news shows since 1987. He grew up along the shores of Hood Canal near Belfair and graduated from Washington State University with degrees in communications and psychology.