HOV lane cheat tries to trick police with skeleton
Police in Washington state shared three photos of creative carpool lane cheats — including one who used a Halloween skeleton as a passenger. The Washington State Patrol shared three photos this week showing the faux-passengers that HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane users used in unsuccessful attempts to ward off scrutiny from police.
One of the photos featured a Halloween skeleton dressed in a jacket and a baseball cap.
“This driver NB I5 at I405 in Sno County was dying to not get caught with this passenger, there’s no bones about it! Another HOV violator stopped by WSP,” Trooper H Axtman, the Washington State Patrol’s District 7 public information officer, tweeted.
Another example tweeted by Trooper Rick Johnson of District 2 shows a pillow dressed in a hoodie and holding a cup of coffee and a tablet.
Axtman also shared a photo of a “creepy” dummy that appears to be composed of a mannequin wearing a surgical mask, a hoodie and a pair of glasses.
HOV lane violations are punished by a $136 fine in Washington state.
A dream come true, literally
An Australian man who won a lottery prize worth $3.5 million said it wasn’t entirely a surprise — he had dreamed the win just three weeks earlier.
The Sydney man told NSW Lotteries officials when he and his wife claimed the prize that the dream left him with a strong feeling that he was going to win the Set for Life drawing, which carries a top prize of $14,374 every month for 20 years.
“Three weeks ago I had a dream where I won Set for Life,” the man said. “Then when we were sitting on the beach relaxing, I looked at my wife, grabbed her hands and I said to her, ‘We are about to win something, you just wait.’” The couple said they plan to use the money to retire early, do some traveling, fix up their home and give to charity.
Restaurant owner fined over no dog pee sign
A sarcastic sign in the window of a Connecticut restaurant asking people not to let their dogs pee on the eatery’s outside flower pot has earned the owner a $250 fine.
Duc Nguyen, owner of Duc’s Place in New Haven, said that he was disgusted with people allowing their dogs to urinate on his pot. He thought a humorous sign was a good way of discouraging dog walkers from letting pets relieve themselves there. It read: “Attn: dog owners. This is a pay-per-pee flower pot. (Pay inside or leave your address and we’ll kindly return the favor.)”
Honda Smith, the city’s public space enforcement officer, said Nguyen broke two city ordinances for being a public nuisance and issued the fine. Nguyen says he plans to appeal.
Man fined $124 for kicking seagull that ate burger
A man accused of kicking a seagull that tried to eat his cheeseburger at a New Hampshire beach has been fined $124. Police investigated the report from a bystander at Hampton Beach earlier this summer.
Reports suggest that the man, Nate Rancloes, said he had just returned from getting a cheeseburger and fries and was sitting on the sand. He said seagulls got to the burger, and he spun around with his leg to shoo one away, but struck the bird. He said it was a simple mistake. A witness said it appeared the bird’s leg was injured and that it struggled to fly away. New Hampshire Fish and Game Lt Adam Cheeney says seagulls are protected under federal law.
Snake rescued from mousetrap in London
Animal rescuers in London said a corn snake is recovering from minor injuries after being found stuck in a mousetrap. The RSPCA said an animal collection officer was dispatched earlier this month when a snake was spotted stuck in a mousetrap in London’s Station Square.
“The poor snake could barely move and was well and truly stuck in the mousetrap. The snake had an abrasion where he was stuck but his injuries do not seem to be too severe,” Animal Collection Officer Joe White said.
“Unfortunately, an owner could not be found so the reptile was transferred to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital for veterinary treatment. If we can not trace an owner then the snake will be rehomed,” he said.
Paddle ball world record planned in Cleveland
Ohio organisers are hoping to gather at least 500 people to break a Guinness World Record for most people doing paddle ball at the same time.
The record attempt, will be organised by LAND studio and the Gordon Square Arts District, a public art organisation in Cleveland, and hosted by the Superelectric Pinball parlour. It will involve a period of paddle ball practice before the official record attempt.
LAND studio said it is hoping to gather at least 500 people for the attempt, and each participant will be presented with their own paddle ball to keep after the event. The attempt is timed to coincide with the installation of a 14-foot paddle ball public art sculpture to be installed in the Gordon Square Arts District by Superelectric artists.
