Another Valley driver has been caught using the HOV lane with a fake passenger -- this time, it was a baby doll in a car seat.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that a trooper stopped a woman driving along eastbound Loop 202 Santan near Alma School Road earlier this month.
DPS says the 48-year-old Chandler woman told the trooper she was picking up her grandchild when she was stopped.
"This was the 2nd time in less than a week troopers caught someone violating HOV Lane rules by using fake persons. It is unacceptable and unfair and you will find yourself with a court date when we catch you," DPS tweeted.
In the other case this month, troopers stopped a woman who was in the HOV lane on the Loop 202 with a mannequin in the passenger seat.That driver was issued a citation, which carries a minimum $400 charge.
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Troopers cite more than 4,000 HOV lane violators annually.