ISLANDIA, N.Y. (WPIX) - ISLANDIA, NY -- A 61-year-old woman was busted by Suffolk County police Tuesday, after she tried to pass off a life-size mannequin as a passenger in order to use the HOV lane, police said.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Howard spotted the suspicious passenger during routine HOV patrol.
According to Howard, he knew something was immediately odd when the so-called passenger was wearing sunglasses and using the visor on a cloudy morning.
When the Deputy Sheriff approached the vehicle, he discovered a female mannequin fully dressed with a long dark wig, blazer, shirt and scarf.
The driver, identified as Ms. K.A. Franscinella of Mount Sinai, was issued a traffic ticket for using the HOV lane without a human passenger.
The summons carries a fine of $135 and two points on a driver's license.
Suffolk County police take such violations very seriously, citing that these types of abuses can prompt serious traffic congestion.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Howard spotted the suspicious passenger during routine HOV patrol.
According to Howard, he knew something was immediately odd when the so-called passenger was wearing sunglasses and using the visor on a cloudy morning.
When the Deputy Sheriff approached the vehicle, he discovered a female mannequin fully dressed with a long dark wig, blazer, shirt and scarf.
The driver, identified as Ms. K.A. Franscinella of Mount Sinai, was issued a traffic ticket for using the HOV lane without a human passenger.
The summons carries a fine of $135 and two points on a driver's license.
Suffolk County police take such violations very seriously, citing that these types of abuses can prompt serious traffic congestion.
