Woman ticketed for using stuffed bear in Portland HOV lane

PORTLAND, OR (KTRK) -- A woman just couldn't bear to drive in the regular freeway lanes.

Police say Scarlett Zibritovsky put a bear in the passenger's seat of her car and then drove in the HOV lane of Portland's Interstate 5.

Zibritovsky told ABC affiliate KOMO-TV she knew she was busted just minutes after getting into the restricted lanes.

"I'm rolling by in my car, driving, and I turn and I see this motorcycle cop and I have this huge smile on my face and I was like 'yep, I am getting a ticket right now,'" Zibritovsky said. "I think he chuckled under his helmet."

A police report says the 19-year-old was also speeding when police pulled her over and she didn't have insurance. Zibritovsky now faces an $818 fine.

"I don't normally break the law," Zibritovsky said.

She told KOMO-TV she hopes a judge will reduce her fine.