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Driver’s carpool furore

CALIFORNIA, USA - A driver’s sneak into the carpool lane could spell the end of viewing corporations as "people" or at least that’s the hope of one California driver.

Jonathan Frieman was heading south on Highway 101 through Novato on October 2012 when he was cited for violating California vehicle code 21655.5, which prohibits drivers from entering unauthorised vehicle lanes.

Frieman was the only occupant at the time and was handed a R4000 fine.

CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE TOO?

He plans to contest it in court in January 2013 arguing that he had corporate papers in his car which he claims state law should view as persons.

According to a press release from Kathleen Russell Consulting, the firm handling publicity for Frieman’s quest for justice, state vehicle code 470’s definition of a person includes “natural persons and corporations.”

Under the code, he technically had passengers in his vehicle.

Frieman commented: "Corporations are imaginary entities, and we've let them run wild. Their original intent 200 years ago at the dawn of our nation was to serve human beings. So I'm wresting back that power by making their personhood serve me."





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