Warning: Imaginary Friends Don’t Count In The Carpool Lane

The Carpool Lane can be tempting. You're running late for work, sitting there in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway when you notice a totally empty lane next to you. Well, that could definitely get you to work on time. However, you aren't allowed to use it because you're alone. So, what do you do?

Sure, you could start driving to work with a co-worker. However, that doesn't help you right now. So, you could take the risk and try it by yourself. If you get caught, you could say your imaginary friend is with you and you aren't actually alone! That would work, right? Nope, don't try it. You aren't going to fool them. Trust me, people have tried.

According to KSBW 8, a person tried to use an "imaginary friend" to evade tolls while driving the express lane on I-880. A photo posted to the California Highway Patrol Hayward Facebook account shows the car's passenger seat dressed with a hat and a shirt covering the upper portion of the seat. Clearly, it's not a real person. The police weren't fooled, either. Can't blame them for trying, though!

Tolls on parts of that highway can be as high as $15 in some places due to dynamic pricing, per KSBW 8. That's a lot of money for a simple toll! I would try to find a way around it, too. Cars who use the Carpool Lane are entitled to a reduced toll, or sometimes they don't have to pay a toll at all! This is a good way to encourage and incentivize people to carpool to work together. It's good for the environment and now good for your wallet! However, not everyone has the ability to travel to work with a co-worker.

The fine is typically a citation of $238, California Highway Patrol said in a Facebook post. That's a lot of money for a small incident. I take back my comment on how I would also try to get around it. Nope, not at that price. I'm sitting in traffic and waiting patiently.

Some people will pretend to have someone next to them. Other people will alter their FasTrak transponder on their car, which is the device that sends an electric signal for toll collection. You can input how many people are in the vehicle with you; however, you shouldn't lie about it!

In a news release via KSBW 8, California Highway Patrol warned, "Imaginary friends don't count as 'Occupants' when setting a FasTrak transponder. Yesterday, this driver thought he could outsmart our Officers on patrol but failed." The CHP says they've seen dummies, plastic skeletons, and more as a way to pretend drivers aren't alone in their car. However, they aren't being fooled.

While committing crimes may seem black and white (you either broke the law or you didn't), there are certainly some crimes that are dumber than others. Sometimes it's the crime itself that's wild, other times, it's the people committing said crimes. These are 5 of the craziest, cringeworthy crimes ever committed.

Crimes can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. However, it takes a very unique individual, a case study if you will, to commit some of these outrageously dumb crimes. Years ago, these criminals would have been featured on Spike TV or one of those America's Dumbest Criminal shows. Today, I'm not sure if those shows are around...and I'm certain Spike TV isn't around anymore. That's a story for another time.

Crimes can happen for a number of reasons. They may happen out of necessity. They could also happen on accident. These crimes, however, do not fall into those categories. These crimes are different. None of these would accidentally happen. They also aren't a matter of life or death. There's no ethics quiz here, or any matters of 'would you steal bread to support your family?' These crimes, and criminals, aren't straight up cringeworthy.

While all of these crimes are crazy and certainly cringeworthy, they also make for excellent conversation pieces. That's why I've gone and found five examples of the wildest stories that Dave and Chuck the Freak have talked about and made a list highlighting the best of the best. Let's be honest...what's better than reading a story about one of the craziest crimes ever committed? Or, watching Dave and Chuck the Freak talk about some of the dumbest crimes ever committed? Personally, I'm going with the funny storytellers.

They add their own two cents and perspectives on these stories that nobody else could provide. Not even those talking heads on the dumbest criminal shows. Am I the only one who remembers those? I feel like they were a staple on TruTV or VH1, but now all I can find on TruTV is Impractical Jokers, which is awesome but...you get it. Let's not delay! Here's the list!

Dave & Chuck the Freak talk about a man in Wisconsin who was arrested after lighting his own car on fire and being found naked, covered in liquid soap near a lakae. He is supposedly a licensed psychotherapist, works with 'magic mushrooms' and is "pretty much an expert in magic."

Dave & Chuck the Freak hear about a new Amazon vendor scam involving glue guns and head-lamps, or a potential windfall if you're James.

Dave & Chuck the Freak talk about a man in Dearborn, Michigan who exposed himself to someone at a Burlington Coat Factory. They are very confused when they learn about their hours and huge social media following. Then, they try to figure out what they even sell there.

Dave & Chuck the Freak talk about a man in Las Vegas, Nevada who stripped nude and danced on the gaming tables before he was restrained and arrested. Vegas, baby...

Dave & Chuck the Freak talk about a man in Illinois who accidentally shot himself in the leg whilst dreaming of burglars breaking into his house. Living the proverbial dream isn't always what it seems...