No sooner do you have a brand-new carpool lane on US-95 north from the Spaghetti Bowl to Lake Mead (the state’s first!) than you have jerk-offs abusing the system via any means possible. “I don’t think they will be on a special lookout,” NDOT Public Information Officer Robert H. McKenzie says of local traffic officers. “But if they see something suspicious they may follow-up more closely.”
Decoy blow-up doll
Chance of success: moderate. At least until the Nevada heat causes your passenger to explode, much to the shock of the lane’s other drivers.
Decoy hooker
Chance of success: extremely high. But if you’re going to pay one to ride along with you, it’s gonna be awfully tempting to throw in a little extra for road head.
Decoy dead body
Chance of success: pretty good. Saves you the trouble of desert disposal, plus infrared detectors in other cities thus far have no way of recognizing “human skin” versus “dead-human skin.”
Decoy dog wearing sunglasses and a ball cap
Chance of success: nil, unless your companion happens to be 1) Brian from Family Guy; 2) the sheepdog from Babe; 3) Scooby-Doo; 4) Wishbone; 5) Harvey from Men in Black II; or any other vocal canine who’d surely talk the two of you out of a fine.