Fetuses do not count as passengers

[cavymom]

PHOENIX (AP) - Fetuses do not count as passengers when it comes to determining who can drive in the carpool lane, a judge has ruled.

Candace Dickinson was fined $367 for improper use of a carpool lane, but contended the fetus inside her womb allowed her to use the lane. Motorists who use the lanes normally must carry at least one passenger during weekday rush hours.
Municipal Judge Dennis Freeman rejected Dickinson's argument Tuesday, applying a "common sense" definition in which an individual is someone who occupies a "separate and distinct" space in a vehicle.

"The law is meant to fill empty space in a vehicle," the judge said.

Sgt. Dave Norton stopped Dickinson's car Nov. 8. When asked how many people were in the car, Dickinson said two, pointing to "her obvious pregnancy," the officer said.

Norton said Dickinson's theory "would require officers to carry guns, radios and pregnancy testers, and I don't think we want to go there."

wonder if pets count ...

 

[CCGirl]

wonder if pets count ...

She probably counts her pregnancy in the census too!

But pets do count...they are alive! You can even get seatbelts for your dog!

 

[Arnold_Philips]

What about multiple personalities?

 

[TylerDurden0083]

This is crazy!

 

[Chuck_Darwin]

But fetus' are people(Along with Solent Green.....)

 

[s_gunter]

I don't know about other cities, but I know that Houston will let a Mom drive in the carpool lane with an infant in the back seat. However, I have heard (I don't have specifics, so sorry) though that some cities don't allow that. It has to be someone else that has a drivers license, or it isn't considered "carpooling". Kids in the car cannot take up more roadspace since they don't have driver's licences, or cars.

 

[MichaelFJF]

The whole point of the HOV lane is to save gas and reduce congestion. Kids don't count and animals don't count.

 

[HelloToAll]

What about multiple personalities?

lol Yeah, really.

 

[Fantine]

The purpose of car-pool lanes is to reduce the number of commuter cars on the road during rush hour.

Therefore, if two or more commuters, each of whom would normally drive his/her own car, are driving together, they should be allowed in the commuter lane.

Fetuses, dogs, and infants would be in the same category as those inflatable commuters some people use to trick the police with, because neither fetuses, dogs, or infants reduce the number of cars that would otherwise be on the road.

 

[shinbits]

since when does a fetus need a seat?

 

[MsAnne]

The whole point of the HOV lane is to save gas and reduce congestion. Kids don't count and animals don't count.

Fetuses, dogs, and infants would be in the same category as those inflatable commuters some people use to trick the police with, because neither fetuses, dogs, or infants reduce the number of cars that would otherwise be on the road.

You know, I've always thought it was just that simple. You shouldn't count as part of the carpool lane if you're not of driving age .... or ... er .... have 4 feet....

...the same category as those inflatable commuters some people use..

...or are full of hot air.

 

[Moros]

America's fetal fetish is really absurd. All these debates about whether a fetus is another person or not in just about every situation is ridiculous. Next up will be a heated argument about the ethics of refusing a booth reservation at a restaurant for one pregnant woman because the fetus is an 'individual'...

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

I don't know about other cities, but I know that

Houston will let a Mom drive in the carpool lane with an infant in the back seat. However, I have heard (I don't have specifics, so sorry) though that some cities don't allow that. It has to be someone else that has a drivers license, or it isn't considered "carpooling". Kids in the car cannot take up more roadspace since they don't have driver's licences, or cars.

Which shows that carpool lanes are a really dumb idea.

In fact, if commuters don’t or can’t carpool they actually make pollution worse by reducing road capacity. Not to mention the waste of police resources who have to spend time sitting by the roadside figuring out what is and isn’t allowed in them.

 

[MichaelFJF]

The ludicrous situation aside, I heard the other day that a LOT of states are getting rid of them because they just don't work. They're just opening that lane up to everyone.

 

[Illuminatus]

...or are full of hot air.

Now, now, let's not discriminate against politicians.

 

[Rochir]

America's fetal fetish is really absurd. All these debates about whether a fetus is another person or not in just about every situation is ridiculous. Next up will be a heated argument about the ethics of refusing a booth reservation at a restaurant for one pregnant woman because the fetus is an 'individual'...

REPS! Oh so VERY true!

 

[JPPT1974]

The ludicrous situation aside, I heard the other day that a LOT of states are getting rid of them because they just don't work. They're just opening that lane up to everyone.

It is indeed ludicrous as the states need to cut them some slack and see if they do work.