I don't like to throw around the word "hero," but . . .

Long Island man busted for using wooden dummy in carpool lane
United Press International - March 2, 2015

A New York state police officer said he pulled a car over for speeding in a carpool lane and discovered the passenger was a wooden dummy in a hooded sweatshirt.

Suffolk County Highway Patrol Officer Jonathan Abrams said he spotted a car speeding in the high-occupancy vehicle lane on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hill about 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Abrams pulled over James Campbell, 56, and quickly "realized that the front seat passenger wasn't human," the officer told WABC-TV.

"I was trying not to laugh at the guy because I thought it was quite silly," Abrams told WNBC-TV.

Abrams said Campbell told him he was using the dummy so he could take the HOV lane and be on time for his new job.

Campbell said he has been using the dummy to travel in HOV lanes "for months." He said being cited for speeding and an occupancy violation has not changed his habits -- Campbell said he used the dummy to drive in the HOV lane on his way home Friday.