'Busted': Driver Tries Evading Carpool Toll With Faceless Dummy In East Bay

HAYWARD, CA — A driver will not have to pay more than a toll fee after being caught trying to "beat the system" by placing a faceless dummy in their passenger seat, authorities said.

Hayward's California Highway Patrol posted on social media Tuesday that an officer caught the driver setting their FasTrak Flex to multiple occupants despite only being the only real, breathing person in the car.

"Hayward units weren’t buying it, and the toll evasion citation probably cost a lot more than the toll itself," the department said in a statement on Tuesday. "Reminder: HOV occupants need to be actual people, not your arts and crafts project."

The post brought on laughs from several people in the comments.

One person on social media commented that the carpool rules technically say two or more occupants, but don't specify whether they have to be human.

"Note to self, buy a realistic mask for dummy," one commenter said. "I once knew someone who put a full size gorilla doll in their front seat to beat the tolls," another said.

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