Original Article regnant driver pleads innocent By Rick D'Elia, Tribune December 3, 2005 A pregnant Ahwatukee Foothills woman who gained national attention for claiming to a police officer that her unborn child was a passenger in the carpool lane pleaded not guilty Friday in Phoenix Municipal Court to a traffic violation. Candace Dickerson, 23, was given a court date for next month to fight the $383 ticket she received Nov. 8 while driving to work in the carpool lane. A Phoenix officer pulled Dickerson over on Interstate 17 at 6 a.m. and cited her for being alone in the vehicle. The near full-term woman argued there were two people. Dickerson did not return phone calls Friday. "I dont have the money to pay it, plus its the principle of it," Dickerson told the Tribune on Nov. 15. "Im not willing to just stand down. Its ridiculous. The principle of the fact is he couldve given me a warning." Arizona law does not define a passenger as someone actually occupying a seat, nor does it give an age limit. "Whats the difference between a 1-year-old and in my womb?" Dickerson added. A Nov. 16 Tribune story on the case set off a firestorm of opinions many laced with biting sarcasm on national television, Internet news sites and blogs. The case also piqued the interest of a Georgetown University law school class. A judge is set to hear the case at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10.