An American Lion

Really, what’s the fuss here?

A New Yorker faces a $135 traffic fine for using a mannequin as her “plus one” in the high-occupancy vehicle lane of the Long Island Expressway.

An alert sheriff’s deputy on Long Island became suspicious this week when he saw the “passenger” wearing sunglasses and using the visor. The problem: The sky was overcast.

When he stopped the vehicle, he found the mannequin, fully dressed with a long dark wig, blazer, shirt and scarf.

The 61-year-old driver left with a summons. In addition to a fine, she could be hit with two points on her license.

“At first glance, this may seem humorous but it is not a joking matter when you drive off with a ticket,” Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco told NBC News.

Another major crimewave averted. If this was the woman’s third or fourth offense, fine. But, how seriously are we supposed to take the enforcement of commuter laws when we can’t build high speed rail, light rail or establish regular bus services in this country?

I’m not excusing the woman’s choice to use a mannequin to flaunt the laws—I’m saying that I don’t get why it has to be about going to court and all of that. And, did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, the woman was lonely and couldn’t find any friends? I’ll stop so that you can allow sympathy to shame you into silence.