Solo Driver Almost Gets Away With 'Next-Level' Carpool Lane Dummy

LOS ANGELES, CA — One SoCal scofflaw managed to earn some tongue-in-cheek praise along with a handful of tickets when he was caught in the carpool lane with a "next level" passenger dummy, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The dummy was so realistic, the CHP posted a snapshot of it to Instagram with a nod to the effort and a warning to copycats.

"We’ve gotta give it to them, the appearance is next level modeling but at the end of the day… plastic is plastic," CHP officials wrote.

The dummy, buckled into the passenger seat with a hoodie and sunglasses, bore a striking resemblance to the rapper Snoop Dogg, many commenters noted on the Instagram post.

The driver might have gotten away with the trick as old as the HOV lane, itself. However, the motorist caught the attention of an officer by illegally crossing the double line into the carpool lane in Santa Fe Springs, according to the CHP.

"Officer Kaplan made an enforcement stop on this vehicle for crossing solid double lines only to realize the driver was the only occupant in the vehicle with their plastic friend," according to the CHP post. "The goatee was sharp … just a little too sharp. The driver was subsequently issued a citation for multiple carpool violations."

The best way to avoid getting caught for carpool violations is not to commit them in the first place, according to the CHP.

"Remember to plan ahead, know your route of travel, and the general challenges of your drive to avoid being in a rush or tempted to push your luck," the CHP wrote.