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Photo courtesy of the Minnesota State Patrol

Sometimes you have to wonder if it's worth the effort to game the system.

Today the Minnesota State Patrol caught a woman driving in a MnPASS lane with a mannequin in her backseat. The special lanes are open only to drivers who pay an electronic toll -- or to those who carpool.

This backseat companion, along for the ride down Interstate 35W south of  Minneapolis, was decked out in a comfy hooded sweatshirt and neon orange sunglasses.

The driver claimed someone dared her to do it, according to the Minnesota State Patrol's 

Cheaters in the MnPASS lane are nothing new. As many as nine of 100 cars are running afoul of the rules, state transportation officials told the 

last year. The newspaper reported that mannequin sightings in the special lanes were especially common when only carpoolers used them.

Today's scofflaw was driving on a suspended license and received two citations, the state patrol said.

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Laura Yuen

Author

A hipster mannequin goes for a joyride in the carpool lane.

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