Funeral Processions

[Wyndru]

Are funeral processions excluded from many traffic laws?

I noticed today that they don't need to slow down for stop lights. I saw a car nearly get side swiped earlier today by the leading car, because he saw a green light and started turning into the lane that the procession was. I'm glad this guy was in front of me, because I didn't see the line of cars coming either, and wouldn't have expected a car driving normal speed to just run through a red light, especially on a 45mph road.

The leading car was beeping his horn through the intersection and had his headlights on, but that was really the only warning he gave. He didn't slow down at all.

 

[Ns1]

Are funeral processions excluded from many traffic laws?

I noticed today that they that they don't need to slow down for stop lights. I saw a car nearly get side swiped earlier today by the leading car, because he saw a green light and started turning into the lane that the procession was. I'm glad this guy was in front of me, because I didn't see the line of cars coming either, and wouldn't have expected a car driving normal speed to just run through a red light, especially on a 45mph road.

The leading car was beeping his horn through the intersection and had his headlights on, but that was really the only warning he gave. He didn't slow down at all.

wtf? here in our town, there's cops stopping traffic so shit like that doesn't happen...

 

[purbeast0]

running red lights and stuff is illegal in a funeral procession unless you have the police involved to stop the lights in the traffic path. i only know this because my uncle is a cop, and when my dad died he got one of these for us and i specifically asked him about this and he said it's illegal.

 

[fjmeat]

gotta have a cop escort to block intersection traffic

 

[Mixolydian]

Are funeral processions excluded from many traffic laws?

They seem to be.

Around here, the cars in the procession usually hang little bright-orange flags on their windows as a signal for other drivers.

 

[Wyndru]

running red lights and stuff is illegal in a funeral procession unless you have the police involved to stop the lights in the traffic path. i only know this because my uncle is a cop, and when my dad died he got one of these for us and i specifically asked him about this and he said it's illegal.

Interesting. I wonder why this happened then. It was right when the light changed, maybe he thought he could make the yellow, and the whole line could just follow.

The intersection ended up in a standstill until it was done, which was a full light cycle. The guy who nearly got hit was just sitting in the middle of the intersection until everyone passed.

 

[jagec]

In many states, if the lead vehicle enters the intersection on a green, the other vehicles may follow, even if the light turns red. In theory it should be a constant stream of vehicles, and thus it won't be that dangerous to other traffic. But the lead vehicle is supposed to stop on red, or yellow if they can do so easily.

In my opinion, funeral processions don't make much sense. In the old days when you would actually be walking in a crowd of mourners and could see the hearse ahead at all times, they made sense...kind of a community solidarity thing. But how is staring at the brake lights of the car in front of you for half an hour respectful to the deceased OR important to the community?

I think that I'm going to specifically request no procession in my will.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Yeah...I never understood those death parades.

I've seen all kinds of people stop in the middle of 4 lane roads when one goes by going the opposite direction. It's like when people pull over for ambulances that aren't anywhere near their lane of traffic...they're more likely going to cause another accident than make that big of a difference in the ambulance travel time.

 

[SamQuint]

Here in CA you have to have a motorcycle officer to run traffic breaks. If your procession is over a certain amount of cars you have to have more officers. I think it is 2 min and 1 more for every 20 cars.

If you are in the procession with a marked window sticker you can run lights and keep with the procession.

2817. Any person who disregards any traffic signal or direction given by a peace officer authorized pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 70 of the Penal Code to escort funeral processions, if the peace officer is in a peace officer's uniform, and is in the process of escorting a funeral procession, shall be guilty of an infraction and subject to the penalties provided in subdivision (a) of Section 42001.

This basically means the officer directing traffic can force you to stop for the procession and that you must obey him otherwise you are subject to the law.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Its ok in MA assuming you're all in a line. Police usually do their best to be at the lights but sometimes distance or a city make this impossible. The processions are essentially so everyone arrives at the grave site around the same time.

 

[mizzou]

technically only uniformed officers can stop traffic at intersections. Letting those funeral people do it is a courtesy..and usually state law supports it.

if you hit one of those harley ex cop bikes with it's emergency lights on at an intersection, technically you did not hit an emergency vehicle.

Not that matters, you will still be in the wrong for not yielding to a funeral procession.

 

[Wyndru]

technically only uniformed officers can stop traffic at intersections. Letting those funeral people do it is a courtesy..and usually state law supports it.

if you hit one of those harley ex cop bikes with it's emergency lights on at an intersection, technically you did not hit an emergency vehicle.

Not that matters, you will still be in the wrong for not yielding to a funeral procession.

Yeah, I was curious about the liability. If this driver got hit, they would be liable because they didn't yield? What if you just didn't see it? I honestly didn't even know why he hit his brakes until after the car came through. I'm glad the driver in front of me was paying attention, I would've gotten hit for sure in this instance.

 

[chimaxi83]

I always see them stop at red lights, but if they're already rolling through when the light turns, they keep on going.

 

[Aikouka]

I've seen all kinds of people stop in the middle of 4 lane roads when one goes by going the opposite direction. It's like when people pull over for ambulances that aren't anywhere near their lane of traffic...they're more likely going to cause another accident than make that big of a difference in the ambulance travel time.

That baffled me when I moved down here and saw people stop for a procession on the opposite side of a four lane (two per side) divided road. I asked someone and they told me that it's "out of respect for the dead". What about having respect for the living and getting out of my way? :|

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If they haven't arranged for a police escort, they have to obey traffic signals. Of course, if a police officer was present, he'd block the intersection.

 

[02ranger]

Yeah...I never understood those death parades.

I've seen all kinds of people stop in the middle of 4 lane roads when one goes by going the opposite direction. It's like when people pull over for ambulances that aren't anywhere near their lane of traffic...they're more likely going to cause another accident than make that big of a difference in the ambulance travel time.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. I have been in the car with people on a 4 lane road and they pull over for an ambulance that's going the other way, with no traffic on the other side of the road, and I asked them why. They said "you'd want people to get out of the way if your life depended on it" but if they don't need to drive in your lane, why move!? You're better off to keep traffic moving.

I don't really "get" the idea of stopping for funeral processions, either. I know it's supposed to be a sign of respect, but I've been in a funeral procession and seen the other cars on the road pull over for us, and I never once thought they cared about who died or the people in the procession, they just did it because it's what they were taught to do.

 

[Mixolydian]

Yeah...I never understood those death parades.

I've seen all kinds of people stop in the middle of 4 lane roads when one goes by going the opposite direction. It's like when people pull over for ambulances that aren't anywhere near their lane of traffic...they're more likely going to cause another accident than make that big of a difference in the ambulance travel time.

That baffled me when I moved down here and saw people stop for a procession on the opposite side of a four lane (two per side) divided road. I asked someone and they told me that it's "out of respect for the dead". What about having respect for the living and getting out of my way? :|

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. I have been in the car with people on a 4 lane road and they pull over for an ambulance that's going the other way, with no traffic on the other side of the road, and I asked them why. They said "you'd want people to get out of the way if your life depended on it" but if they don't need to drive in your lane, why move!? You're better off to keep traffic moving.

I don't really "get" the idea of stopping for funeral processions, either. I know it's supposed to be a sign of respect, but I've been in a funeral procession and seen the other cars on the road pull over for us, and I never once thought they cared about who died or the people in the procession, they just did it because it's what they were taught to do.

People don't know the rules of the road. Plain and simple.

 

[JEDIYoda]

http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/procession/

What To Do When You Encounter a Funeral Procession

Just remember that funeral processions have the right-of-way. Here are some additional Do’s and Don’ts on how to handle a funeral procession that passes through an area where you are driving:
Do be respectful.
Do yield – once the lead car has entered traffic, such as going through an intersection – the entire procession will follow without interruption. Even if their traffic light is red and yours is green, you must stop and allow the procession to continue through the intersection until all cars in the procession have passed.
Do look for the last vehicle in the procession – it typically has 2 or more flags and a hazard lights flashing. Once it passes by, you may resume the normal flow of traffic.
Don’t cut into or cut off a procession.
Don’t honk at a car in a funeral procession.
Don’t pass a funeral procession on the right side on a highway, unless the procession is in the far left lane.

 

[who?]

Here in Arkansas the procession is supposed to obey traffic laws if they'
re in a town that can't afford to provide a police escort.
When the Razorbacks are in the bus from the hotel to the game (they're kept off campus the night before) they get a police escort with flashing lights and if you don't pull over and stop you get a ticket no matter which direction you're going.

 

[OutHouse]

my friends dads funeral had rent a cops that looked just like motorcycle cops but were not. the gas tank on the harley had the company logo instead of a police badge or star.

 

[Sluggo]

I have been in the car with people on a 4 lane road and they pull over for an ambulance that's going the other way, with no traffic on the other side of the road, and I asked them why.

Because it's the law?

 

[rh71]

Was recently in the car behind the casket car and they just drove us through honking with no cops helping us. It had flashing lights though. The lead car was full of flowers and had a huge framed pic so I guess it drew a lot of attention already.

 

[02ranger]

Because it's the law?

If you're on the opposite side of the road where the ambulance doesn't need to be? I thought it was only the law to get out of the way if you were in the way. I could be wrong, my driver's ed was admittedly pretty crappy.

 

[Sixguns]

In my town all the cops go along and stop traffic everywhere so they can travel together. Really annoying when I have to sit through 4 green lights before I can turn left.

 

[Iron Woode]

there are no exceptions for funeral processions here. You are taking a risk driving through red lights. If you get hit when going through a red light in your funeral procession you can and will be charged.

As for pulling over and showing respect; I have no issues with that. I do have issues with someone who decides to stop in their lane and hold up traffic. Pull over or don't stop. The person is dead and doesn't give a shit if you stop or not.