Judge: Fetuses Don't Count in HOV Lanes

[phantom power]

A little local color from my neck of the woods:

January 11,2006 | PHOENIX -- Fetuses do not count as passengers when it comes to determining who may drive in the carpool lane, a judge ruled.

Candace Dickinson was fined $367 for improper use of a carpool lane, but contended the fetus inside her womb allowed her to use the lane. Motorists who use the lanes normally must carry at least one passenger during weekday rush hours.

Municipal Judge Dennis Freeman rejected Dickinson's argument Tuesday, applying a "common sense" definition in which an individual is someone who occupies a "separate and distinct" space in a vehicle.

"The law is meant to fill empty space in a vehicle," the judge said.

Sgt. Dave Norton stopped Dickinson's car Nov. 8. When asked how many people were in the car, Dickinson said two, pointing to "her obvious pregnancy," the officer said.

Norton said Dickinson's theory "would require officers to carry guns, radios and pregnancy testers, and I don't think we want to go there."

[Poll_Blind]

1. LOL! Thank goodness! n/t

PB

[bluestateguy]

2. What about using a Safe-T-Man?

[phantom power]

3. Yeah, they frown on that too :-)

[Massacure]

4. Someone should argue this before the Supreme Court

Just for the mere fact of setting a precedence.

[phantom power]

5. Yeah, but the Supremes might rule differently.

Not counting fetuses as passengers for HOV "slows down" a beating heart :-)

[NNadir]

6. We have not begun to see what Alito and Roberts will bring to this court.

Fetuses are about to become citizens with full rights, along with egg cells in ovaries.

And yes, CHP will need to carry pregnancy testers.

Welcome to Afghanistan in 2000.

[phantom power]

7. Are my sperm also citizens?

Cuz every day I don't pro-create, millions die. Likewise for all male humans. Are we all murderers, if we don't impregnate some female each day?

[NNadir]

8. I don't want to go there.

There's this rule at DU that often gets mention in the Lounge... :)

Yes, though, your sperm are all people endowed with natural rights. It is your personal responsibility to find an egg for each of them so that they can realize their full potential as full human beings.