Carpool cheaters’ crackdown campaign seems to fall short

QI saw an item on TV about the CHP’s crackdown on carpool cheaters on Highway 4 last week. It showed a woman mannequin wearing a bright red Los Angeles Angels shirt and cap sitting in the passenger seat.

Can’t cheaters be more creative than that?

— Frank Kennedy,

San Francisco

AThey can. This driver did give this mannequin dubbed ‘Angel’ by the CHP a lovely long black wig and sunglasses. But be warned a passenger in her garb is sure to get a close look by officers on carpool patrol.

Recently, another cheater had two mannequins in his SUV on Interstate 80.

It was the fourth time he has been caught cheating. He also was cited for driving on a suspended license and had his car towed. Ouch.

My favorite is from several years ago when a driver on Highway 237 spotted a “woman” passenger with sunglasses, big hat but “terrible hair” said the caller. As he passed the carpooler, turns out the passenger

was a large dog. Never found out if this scofflaw ever got caught or got a haircut.

About the same time in a Palo Alto business parking lot, a guy saw what appeared to be a baby left alone in a car seat on a warm day. He smashed the window to free what he thought was a child. It was a doll. The driver had done this before, always placing the large doll in the trunk as he marched into his office.

But the guy passing by didn’t know this. Police waited for the driver, who got a ticket, had to pay for a new window and got a tongue-lashing from his angry wife.

QOn the story about the carpool cheater on Highway 4: One down, a million to go.

AIsn’t that the truth. Previous crackdowns have netted as many as 200 a day.

Q— N. Mole

After almost two years of construction at the Highway 13-Interstate 580 interchange in Oakland, the work was completed about six months ago. Yeah! However, one port-a-potty was left behind. Will it ever be removed?

— Valerie Hellmold

AMarcus-a-CaltransMan sent a copy of this inquiry to the resident engineer for this project. He will reach out to the contractor to determine if this port-a-potty belongs to them and have it removed.

QI observed an AC Transit bus in the carpool lane during commute traffic on Interstate 880 in Fremont. The bus had an “out of service” sign and had no passengers. Is that legal?

— H. Guerin

AYes. Buses making runs to maintenance areas or other locations can use the diamond lanes even if no passengers are on board.

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat at noon today at www. mercurynews.com/ live-chats.

Look for Gary at Facebook.com/ mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.