This came up locally, recently. A hearse driver was using the car-pool lane, and when pulled over, claimed the dead guy as a passenger. Cop was not amused.
In Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario, Canada) there is an impressive mansion at the north end of Queen Street where it curves west to avoid Lake Ontario. It was built at the beginning of the last century for a very successful lawyer from Buffalo named Penny. When the Depression struck, Mr. Penny was ruined and hanged himself from the chandelier in the stairwell.
Because he was an American citizen who had died in Canada, his family now faced double death duties so his grown sons packed him into the back of their Pierce-Arrow and high-tailed it to the border.
When they crossed the bridge, the Customs Inspector asked, “What’s the matter with him?”
“Oh, he is intoxicated.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My parents live next door from 1985 to 1999 (in a much more ordinary house) and I heard this story from both the woman who owned it at that time and from a gentleman who had “married” the previous owner, had moved out on that man’s death, and who used to walk his dogs past the house every day.
BE THIS GUY over 5 years ago
Is Rat going to be his own lawyer?
DennisinSeattle over 5 years ago
This came up locally, recently. A hearse driver was using the car-pool lane, and when pulled over, claimed the dead guy as a passenger. Cop was not amused.
Martin I over 5 years ago
I would think it would be especially important to get the deceased to the graveyard without delay.
NErDysprosium over 5 years ago
“Mama, just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head,
Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead,"
chris_weaver over 5 years ago
But, your Honor, my case belongs in Traffic Court!
kaffekup over 5 years ago
Sorry, Rat. He was a person when you killed him.
rk over 5 years ago
Was this Steph, after one too many bad puns?
hariseldon59 over 5 years ago
You dirty Rat!
JasonBall over 5 years ago
This one’s darker than usual, and that’s saying something.
Hugh B. Hayve over 5 years ago
A corpse is a corpse of course, of course…
Breadboard over 5 years ago
Hummmmm …. Does the law state that it must be a living person ? Getting technical now ! Croc Power !
Troglodyte over 5 years ago
Rat does seem to have other, more er, interesting friends than Goat and Pig!
asrialfeeple over 5 years ago
They decided on the firing squad instead.
alasko over 5 years ago
Ever been in a funeral home bathroom? They have his and hearse towels.
Zebrastripes over 5 years ago
Seems twos a crowd here….
NoSleepTil_BKLYN over 5 years ago
Our prisons are over-crowded with idiots who really do think like that. (I know because I had a couple in my family)
Robin Harwood over 5 years ago
It might be a good idea to get a second legal opinion on that, Rat.
Gent over 5 years ago
Oh no! Looks like Rat hit Pastis too hard this time.
Waittilnxyr over 5 years ago
Today’s strip should win a prize of some sort.
YippiKiAyMofo over 5 years ago
Dead people count in Chicago. Well, they vote, anyway.
aerotica69 over 5 years ago
Don’t you just hate it when you get pulled over and the cop notices the dead body in the back seat?
walstib Premium Member over 5 years ago
Can a pregnant woman use the carpool lane?
johndifool over 5 years ago
Bernie, is that you?
Snoots over 5 years ago
But Officer, he’s not dead. He’s just pinin’ for the f’jords!
Carl Rennhack Premium Member over 5 years ago
Rat won’t get the chair? AW NUTS! I was looking forward to the Dead End Kids asking Father Jerry, “Did Rat really die like a rat?”!!!
Kveldulf over 5 years ago
In Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario, Canada) there is an impressive mansion at the north end of Queen Street where it curves west to avoid Lake Ontario. It was built at the beginning of the last century for a very successful lawyer from Buffalo named Penny. When the Depression struck, Mr. Penny was ruined and hanged himself from the chandelier in the stairwell.
Because he was an American citizen who had died in Canada, his family now faced double death duties so his grown sons packed him into the back of their Pierce-Arrow and high-tailed it to the border.
When they crossed the bridge, the Customs Inspector asked, “What’s the matter with him?”
“Oh, he is intoxicated.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My parents live next door from 1985 to 1999 (in a much more ordinary house) and I heard this story from both the woman who owned it at that time and from a gentleman who had “married” the previous owner, had moved out on that man’s death, and who used to walk his dogs past the house every day.
the lost wizard over 5 years ago
Well, technically, very few of the characters who appear in this strip are persons.
codedaddy over 5 years ago
Sorry officer, but my passenger was dying to get home.
WCraft Premium Member over 5 years ago
Is this a Schrodinger’s corpse dilemma? The thing in the back is alternately not/is a person until the cop checks.
Concretionist over 5 years ago
Rat gets “The Trap” not “The Chair”
Sisyphos over 5 years ago
PBS characters are such thoughtful sophists! Socrates wold really have had fun destroying Rat’s argument….
djhaisell Premium Member over 5 years ago
Hospital board: “Misuse of the cadavers…”
Dr. Nick: “I get to work faster if I use the carpool lane.”
weatherford.joe Premium Member over 5 years ago
What have you done, Rat?
jrdub Premium Member over 5 years ago
As if torn from this weeks headlines….. https://www.npr.org/2019/07/03/738384243/hearse-driver-gets-a-warning-for-carpool-lane-violation