Metro Police crack down on expectant mothers

You may be able to take advantage of the stork parking at grocery stores, but being pregnant does not mean you can cruise the HOV lane. Who knew? Metro Police had to weigh in on the is-a-fetus-a-person debate on Tuesday when a woman who was being written a ticket for HOV violation claimed that she was carrying a passenger - in utero. As far as children go, they only count as passengers when they're out of the womb.

HOV violators have been known to get creative with fooling the cops - using mannequins, blow-up dolls, stuffed animals, and even pillows to look like people. Metro spokeswoman Sandra Salazar put a positive spin (per usual) on these ridiculous violations though, noting that "the fact that people do it is testimony that you do save time on the HOV." True that.

Metro Police also noted the difficulty of catching violators, especially during winter when there is less sunlight during typical commuting hours and it is harder for them to see inside cars. Tinted glass and small children also give policemen trouble. If you see an HOV violator, you can report them to the Hero Hotline at 713-921-HERO.