LA Driver Busted With 'Mona Lisa' Of Carpool Dummies

LOS ANGELES, CA — A California Highway Patrol officer in Glendora recently discovered the "Mona Lisa" of carpool dummies, complete with glasses, a face mask properly covering its mouth and nose, crow's feet and even a twinkle in its cheeky eyes.

Maybe it was the Indians cap deep in the heart of Dodgers territory, but the officer grew suspicious — and ended the dummy’s year-and-a-half run cruising the carpool lane on the Foothill Freeway.

It takes a lot to surprise a traffic cop in Los Angeles. But this dummy earned some begrudging admiration back at the station — along with a $400 fine.

“We have seen mannequins or dummies in the past, but this was unlike anything we have seen before,” said CHP Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.

The jig was up Friday during rush hour near the Grand Avenue exit in Glendora. An eagle-eyed officer spotted a Toyota Tacoma in the carpool lane, and he pulled alongside the truck.

“He realized the passenger in the front wasn’t moving, and he became suspicious,” Jimenez said.

Because the truck had illegal tinting on its front windows, the officer pulled it over. He began asking questions.

“But the passenger refused to answer,” Jimenez quipped.

“It was the most complete dummy he’s ever seen. He had the ball cap, the glasses, even the mask,” Jimenez said. “The only thing it didn’t have was life.”

Angelenos are infamous for their traffic hacks, and anyone who's ever had to drive from the Valley to Long Beach during rush hour understands why. Police in L.A. have seen it all: carpool lane mannequins, driving on the shoulder, pre-printed signs asking for help changing lanes, even skateboarding through gridlock on the Hollywood Freeway.

But few carpool lane dummies are so elaborate. Before this, the best carpool dummy was from a couple years back, Jimenez said. It was a "passenger" reclined all the way back, with fake feet resting on the dashboard. Beyond the creative positioning, that dummy didn’t even have a face.

Though sheepish at being caught, the driver shared some artistic pride. The driver 'fessed up to using the carpool lane dummy for about a year and a half without ever arousing suspicion.

“Being caught, I am sure he wasn't too happy,” Jimenez said. “But we gave him an A for effort.”

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