California

Driver caught with spooky — and illegal — co-pilot in carpool lane, California cops say

The driver was pulled over in San Jose, according to California Highway Patrol.
The driver was pulled over in San Jose, according to California Highway Patrol. Photo from Kevin Bankston via Unsplash

A driver was cruising down a highway when their odd-looking passenger caught the eye of California Highway Patrol officers.

After pulling over the driver in San Jose, officers found a lifeless entity seated beside them, CHP - San Jose said in an Oct. 11 Facebook post.

The driver’s passenger was a plastic skeleton topped with an eerie, hooded face mask and buckled in with a seat belt, a photo shared by CHP shows.

An odd-looking passenger caught the eye of California Highway Patrol officers.
An odd-looking passenger caught the eye of California Highway Patrol officers. Photo from California Highway Patrol

“While #spookyseason is upon us, it’s important to remember that decorations being transported in the passenger seat do not qualify to meet carpool requirements,” CHP wrote.

A photo shared by CHP shows an officer handing the driver what appears to be a ticket through the sedan’s passenger window.

Driving in the carpool lane with fewer than two people can result in a fine of at least $490, according to the California Department of Transportation.

A photo shared by CHP shows an officer handing the driver what appears to be a ticket.
A photo shared by CHP shows an officer handing the driver what appears to be a ticket. Photo from California Highway Patrol

Facebook users were quick to crack jokes, with some defending the skeleton, which “was wearing (a) seatbelt” after all, and others asking if the officer had to “check for a ‘pulse?’

“But officer, I was alive when we left the house,” another quipped.

Read Next
Read Next
Read Next
Daniella Segura
McClatchy DC
Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW