But officer...

I cannot believe a pregnant Arizona woman tried to claim that her unborn baby legally qualified her access to the carpool lane.

The carpool lane of a freeway is reserved for two or more people riding in the same vehicle. Its purpose is to encourage more carpooling and less traffic by providing the two-or-more folks, generally all of driving age, the benefit of using this less-congested lane to and from work during peak traffic hours (unless you live in Los Angeles where carpool lanes are enforced 24/7).

It amazes me how creative people can be with their excuses. We already have signs and warnings on everything we purchase or do because of the potential legal ramifications generally created by people who know how to work the system, so to speak (like suing for hot coffee... of course coffee is hot). It sounds like we now need to clarify freeway signs and add another one alongside Slow Traffic Keep Right and Carpool Lane 3 a.m.-9 a.m. to read Carpool Lane for Two or More People Age 5 and Over.

Common sense is disappearing fast and it might be time to start a conservation foundation in order to save it.