Why Do Funerals Have Police Escorts?

They also have wailing sirens and flashing lights, but some of the escorts directing traffic to the funeral processions are not police officers. Why do police accompany funerals? They often provide escort vehicles so that the funeral procession can travel from the venue to the burial site as a group. Some families may hire police or private security guards to accompany their funeral procession in motorcades or police cars.

Police escorts accompany funeral processions in order to deter the press, protestors, and large crowds from interfering with the activity. Furthermore, some people are buried with valuable possessions, so police are present to ensure the corpse is not looted as well as to prevent emotional outbursts from escalating into violence at funerals.

The currently followed procedure requires that only one police officer arrive at the funeral home shortly before an escort is required. For example, if the funeral is particularly large and could disrupt traffic or take place late at night, police officers can track vehicles to make sure they make it to their destination safely.

How to Approach a Funeral Parade in a Vehicle

Other vehicles must not move, obstruct or overtake the parade unless directed by the police. For safety reasons, some lead cars may stop at red lights unaccompanied, but once the lead car crosses the intersection, the rest of the team will ignore the traffic lights and follow like bicycles.

When funeral vehicles pass road signs or legally enter an intersection under the direction of police, the rest of the funeral procession may follow the intersection regardless of any traffic control devices or rights of way mandated by the state or even local authorities. law. If the parade is accompanied by a police officer, every time a vehicle of the funeral procession legally enters the intersection, the other vehicles in the procession can continue to follow the intersection regardless of the signal from the traffic control device.

Florida law does not provide for the right of way for escort vehicles at intersections, but it does provide that funeral escort vehicle drivers may direct other vehicles in the parade through the intersection or perform any other movement, notwithstanding any traffic controls. In the absence of law enforcement officers, the person driving the vehicle as a funeral vehicle can direct the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at intersections before and during the passage of the funeral procession.

Some Legal Precautions Taken Regarding Funeral Processions

Minnesota law allows funeral procession vehicles to (1) cross a red light or stop sign after slowing down if necessary, and (2) exceed the posted speed limit of 15 mph to overtake the parade and direct traffic to the next intersection. (3) Instructing other vehicles to drive regardless of direction or turning rules.

If the parade is led by a police officer with emergency equipment (headlights and sirens) on, state law requires you to move to the far right lane and stop your vehicle if the parade is in the same direction as you. That’s the only reason you should drive to the funeral procession.

The Uniform Road Traffic Law does not specify whether funeral processions may pass through red lights, but it grants them right of way at intersections as long as the escort car flashes red, amber, or blue and each vehicle pays due attention. While these privileges are part of the Uniform Traffic Law, the law does not explicitly require that a funeral escort vehicle be such a police or emergency vehicle.

Persons participating in private funerals or other processions within the city without police escort must comply with all state and city traffic laws except as specifically provided in this chapter. Any applicant for a permit to escort a funeral must provide proof of satisfactory completion of a road safety training program to the Chief of Police.

Police Chiefs Often Oversee Funeral Processions

If the permit holder fails to apply in the manner specified in this section, the Chief of Police may order the immediate suspension or revocation of a burial permit. The Chief of Police may prepare and issue written instructions to applicants and authorized personnel regarding the implementation of the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to the safe and legal operation of funeral escort services and the maintenance of badges, vehicles, engines and equipment used for funeral escort services.

The authorizer is authorized to direct traffic in the manner specified in this section, using only any equipment authorized by the Chief of Police for this purpose, and holding a valid funeral escort license from the authorizer.

Sometimes this police escort is done out of respect for a colleague who has died; in other cases, the funeral procession is meant to protect mourners from traffic accidents, protests, or potential attacks such as known criminals or controversial figures. The problem is that with a long escort, friends or relatives of the deceased will run a red light near the end of the procession without the presence of a police car to warn other escorted drivers. Like everyone else on the road, the vehicles in the procession have not yet stopped due to ambulances, firefighters and unescorted police officers with their active ambulance lights or sirens.

Lieutenant David Gearhart said state law allows funeral homes to hold processions with flashing purple lights, but they must obey traffic laws. Oregon has a special law that allows funeral vehicles to use flashing red lights (although not blue), and you are legally required to obey their orders as if they were real traffic cops. While the Baton Rouge Police Department is making changes to how it conducts funeral processions, Bander said there is a parish ordinance requiring two motorcyclists on duty to accompany large loads.

Gene Botkin

Gene is the director of the Theosis Christian Project. He studied physics and military science before founding the Project. Gene is currently pursuing his doctorate in systems engineering at an engineering college in the Ozarks. The Theosis Christian Project is his attempt to expand Holy Orthodoxy in America.

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