Corpses Don't Count In The HOV Lane

Here's something to keep in mind the next time you're driving a hearse through the state of Nevada - the body in the back does not count as a passenger for the HOV lane. At least, that's according to Nevada Highway Patrol who felt compelled to send out the message ahead of the busy 4th of July holiday travel weekend.

Accoridng to WPTV, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Travis Smaka was patrolling I-15 when he noticing someone driving all alone in the HOV lane. After pulling the car over and informing the driver why he was being pulled over, Trooper Smaka was taken off-guard by what the driver said.

"The driver informed me that he had someone who was deceased in the back of the vehicle," Smaka said.

The trooper confirmed there was a body in the back of the Chrysler minivan that was outfitted as a hearse.

The driver asked the Trooper, "So, he doesn't count in the back?"

Smaka told him no, deceased people do not count and let the driver of the hearse off with a warning. The situation prompted the Nevada Highway Patrol Southern Command's Twitter account to issue a clarification for all drivers who are driving on Nevada's highways.

"Today we stopped a local funereal (sic) home hearse in the HOV lane. The driver had the dearly departed in the back, he thought the deceased could be counted as two people. I guess we should clarify this, living, breathing people count for the HOV lane. The driver was given a warning," the department wrote.

You've got to give the driver some credit - at least he didn't try the old trick of putting a mannequin passenger in the front seat or do what someone else did and use a Chucky doll to try and cheat the system.

Photo: Nevada Highway Patrol Southern Command