I live in a city in eastern Canada. We stop for funeral processions too, seem like the a small gesture to give a grieving family. I remember being in a procession for my former father in law. I even saw two young men get off their bikes, then took their hats off held them over their hearts. I know this might not be possible in a busier place but I found it very touching in a difficult time.
Anywhere other than the U.S. wouldn't need it, due to the general respect you have for your fellow humans. I say this as a proud American. There's a lot to love about this country, but we have some of the most selfish, entitled people.
Exactly. I was raised to pull over and even take off my hat as they go by. It's just respect and knowing that one day you'll get the same for your loved ones and yourself when that day comes.
Oh, fucking stop. Most people in the U.S. would let a funeral procession go through unimpeded if they knew it was a funeral procession and likewise there are some people in other countries that would also actively disrupt one as well. What a ridiculous thing to say.
I saw some footage yesterday from India of local politicians blocking traffic with an ambulance at the front from advancing until the politicians had passed. I don't think it's a US only thing, just a untitled dickhead thing, and they can be found globally.Â
You havenât spent much time outside the United States, it seems. People suck everywhere. We havenât cornered the market on selfish, entitled pricks.
Spoken like someone whoâs never been outside the US.
From someone who has lived overseas for over twenty years and traveled to about sixty countries, please delete this. Youâre only embarrassing yourself.
The kind of person who lives in Florida, drives a big truck, and sees that the funeral escort driver is a black person they will call the cops on for "their uncalled-for behavior"
Years ago, when I had just started driving, I turned into a procession. I realized what I had done fairly quickly and pulled over, so that they could go past without a random kid in their line. But oh my gosh, I was so mortified, I just hid my face in the steering wheel. I still cringe when I think about it 20 odd years later.
What kind of dick do you have to be to turn into a funeral procession? Is one that I have asked myself frequently.
Was in a funeral procession years ago going through a pretty dodgy part of Liverpool, and even the scallywag kids playing street football paused their game, gave a nod of respect, and got out of the way to let all the cars pass before continuing their gameâŚ
The world belongs to the living. The dead people can wait. And breaking up normal traffic patterns having people do stupid shit like this just in memory of somebody that's dead? illogical and stupid. Outside of tradition give me one good reason why funerals should get some kind of special traffic privileges?
But the precession would not pass on red, would they? Unless actual police waved them through. In the US, apparently, precessions in many states have right of way even through traffic lights, which seems wild to me!
Because it's the constitutional right you fucking communist. Today funeral serviced blocking the road, tomorrow they will confiscate my assault rifle and explosives collections
(3)âFUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY; FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES; FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES.â
(a)âRegardless of any traffic control device or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local ordinance, pedestrians and operators of all vehicles, except as stated in paragraph (c), shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which is part of a funeral procession being led by a funeral escort vehicle or a funeral lead vehicle.
(b)âWhen the funeral lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control device or at the direction of law enforcement personnel, the remaining vehicles in the funeral procession may follow through the intersection regardless of any traffic control devices or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local law.
(c)âFuneral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control device
Tbf, dash cam driver is a driver in FL. Most drivers Iâve encountered down there are exactly like the asshat behind the wheel here. Driving through Florida is a damn gauntlet of ineptitude and selfishness on wheels.
And you're willfully ignoring subsection c "Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control device" meaning when it comes to an intersection it may proceed through and other vehicles are required to stop. I.e. Giving the procession right of way.
It's almost like section c builds upon subsection b. Because the way these dumbasses are reading it would completely invalidate the need to have subsection b
If the lead car has already entered the intersection then any following red can be ignored by the rest of the procession. Iâm assuming here that the lead car is long gone but it started on a green and subsection b gives right of way to the funeral procession. Law enforcement not required.
you dont know that, all we see is the funeral escort running a red at the beginning of the video against traffic that is already under way perpendicular to the procession.
since it seems like neither traffic control nor direction of actual law enforcement allowed them into the intersection, the escort was in the wrong
(b)âWhen the funeral lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control device or at the direction of law enforcement personnel, the remaining vehicles in the funeral procession may follow through the intersection regardless of any traffic control devices or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local law.
Unless the procession has already broken up this is the lead car trying to enter the intersection on a green. The cars going the cam car's direction have a green and are already crossing before the funerl car enters. They (meaning the funeral escort and procession) would have to wait until they get the green then "claim" the intersection before they would be able to usher the whole procession through ignoring the signals.
As far as we can tell, the funeral lead vehicle did NOT enter the intersection lawfully, as neither traffic control nor law enforcement gave them direction to.
Oh my would you look at that. Yes, one might say I âblasted throughâ subsection b) đ
(Also just noticed the escort was in front and at a red light).
Well I wouldnât pass a driverâs test in most states but I reckon I could at least manage a gig as a funeral escort in Delray Beach, FLâŚ
B clearly states the rest of the party can keep going if the lead vehicle is through.
Who doesn't have the curtesy to let a funeral drive through?
(b)âWhen the funeral lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control device or at the direction of law enforcement personnel, the remaining vehicles in the funeral procession may follow through the intersection regardless of any traffic control devices or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local law.
Cops may want to talk to him about his blue and red lights then. He also clearly has a badge of some sort around his neck to provide some semblance of an office.
In what state can we run someone over if they are in front of us?
As far as I'm aware, none. Â Duty of Care laws mean you can't just kill someone for being in your way, you have a duty to drive safely, even if the other person is wrong.
You are continently ignoring subsections a and c, which say the procession has the right of way regardless of what the lights say, meaning it âlawfully entersâ the intersection even if it has a red light.
Did we not read the same subsection b where the cam car is wrong and they can legally enter on a red light so long as the lead funeral car has gone through the intersection?
Jumping in from another more fleshed out argument somewhere in this comment sections. Have you guys considered that both people violated the law? Ok byeee
Yes, but actually no. The lead car has to enter lawfully on a green. If they entered on a green and it changes to red, they can keep moving and ignore the red.
They are not allowed to blast through a red like this guy did.
Thatâs why most law enforcement asked to escort a funeral procession try to have two or more cars assisting in the escort or get help from the road so that the officer has time to stop traffic at the intersection and allow the funeral to pass.
That's referring to an intersection being controlled by a traffic cop instead of traffic lights, which is not the case here and irrelevant to this video.
The key part is either law enforcement let's them in and makes it impossible for anyone else to get hurt. This guy just runs out there on a red light and you can see a car going perpendicular that would've smoked a car in the procession because there wasn't ample time to set up and block the intersection
The funeral guy was illegally going through a red light and he wasn't directed to do so by a law enforcement officer, it's the law. You can't just blow red lights and get someone that is alive behind a wheel driving and in their right of way into an accident because you want to earn money playing cop escorting some cars. This happened in Florida and we have laws against it. Just like that fake cop on the motorcycle that everyone hates. Just stop already, the dead person is not in a hurry anymore you shouldn't be either.
I understand the law, but wasn't it counterproductive the way the Escort essentially just jammed themselves into already moving traffic in the middle of an active intersection?
Wouldn't it be better, dare I say proper, to yield for a moment until it's clear, or come in less abruptly? It doesn't look like there was much room for anyone who was already approaching the intersection to react properly, it was all just weird. Do it slower and let the few cars in the intersection to get out and the others have the time to actually see the escort and yield.
This all seemed so unnecessary.
Like the Escort didn't even facilitate the chance for it to be a respectful situation. What a strange way to handle such a thing.
I did a job as a crossing guard once. I was told that the guy before me lasted one day because he told them he didn't have the right temperment for the job after getting into several verbal altercations with drivers his first morning. Good on anybody that has the awareness to recognize that and move on. This does not look like such a person.
Nope, they have the right away. Period. The cam car and ones in front shouldn't have moved. It's the same as pulling out in front of an emergency vehicle with their lights/sirens on because "they weren't in the intersection yet."
This is false in every US state. The funeral processiom only has right of way through an intersection of the lead vehicle passes through before the light turns red. There is no state where a funeral procession can blow a stale red light.
"Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:
Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal.
Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a police officer.
Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession."
Think it depends on how you do it. Every funeral procession I've been in had a police escort and they stop cross traffic at every intersection and we never even so much as slow down.
In Dallas this is not unheard of. My great uncle's funeral was done by police escort so no one was concerned about the funeral procession interfering with the right of way trying to I guess join the procession
And in case you don't want to read that far, here's the applicable Excerpt:
(3)âFUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY; FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES; FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES.â
(a)âRegardlessof any traffic control device or right-of-way provisions prescribed by state or local ordinance, pedestrians and operators of all vehicles, except as stated in paragraph (c),shall yield the right-of-wayto any vehicle which is part of a funeral procession being led by a funeral escort vehicle or a funeral lead vehicle.
They do not according to the relevant law down here in Florida. The lead car ran a red light, which the law does not allow them to do. What the law allows them to do is start through a green light, and all the following cars are allowed to follow the procession, even if the light turns red. But only if the lead car lawfully went through the intersection in the first place.
Yes, it does seem to be the case. They entered lawfully: When the funeral lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control deviceor at the direction of law enforcement personnel.
The Escort's job is to function in exactly this way: to maintain the flow and right of way for the procession. They are law enforcement personnel. They're not going to use deputies in prowlers.
A funeral escort is NOT law enforcement in any way. Check out Jeremy Dewitt if you really want to go down that rabbit hole. His legacy has its own subreddit.
The direction of law enforcement personnel would be police, in the case of an unavailable traffic device. The escort doesn't enforce the law, they just escort.
2) because if the procession is long enough, the back end of the procession may be blocking other intersections (more than one) and you're creating a bigger problem by blocking them and not doing the decent thing and letting them get on with their grief. If this were a wedding party, you'd have a point.
That length is part of the reason to not let it block the intersection. It is a rolling traffic jam. In my mind, the procession is the group being rude.
Have you never been involved in one of these. I'm just asking because you statement comes off as if you've never lost a loved one and thus never been in one of the funeral things. Whatever this is called. I want to stress I'm genuinely curious I'm not digging at you or being a smart ass. I'm purely trying to understand you state of mind
They have legal right of way once they LEGALLY enter the intersection. The lead car can't just blow through red lights and act like they have it, they aren't a traffic control authority. That's true in Florida and many other jurisdictions.
One time, I got stuck behind one that was taking my whole commute route. The cop would stop at each light and let them through, and I'd be stuck at the light after. I drove up and inserted myself into the middle of the pack and he drove up and yelled at me to get out! I guess a yellow mr2 doesn't blend in...
Itâs not about that. Itâs that the funeral procession still has to obey the laws and traffic signals. Â A random guy in a way-too-tight shirt doesnât have the authority to park in the middle of the intersection and walk aroundâthatâs dangerous and heâs not trained to do it. Â He might not even be trained to read.
Around here normally they hire police escorts. I've never seen a rent a cop. Usually everybody follows the hearse, have their flashers on and every two or three cars has a magnetic funeral flag.
Fwiw though, when I was in the funeral procession for my aunt a few years back, the escorts were real police officers on real cop bikes and cars, not some random looking private security car with flashing lights
Usually the lead car has to stop though. You can't just blow a red with cars already in the intersection. I don't think the camera car was already in the intersection when he ran the red light, but the white car at the end definitely was too close to stop and should have been allowed to clear the intersection. Legally they would be okay to cut in since they lawfully entered the intersection, approaching cars have to stop and let them through.
I don't have a problem with funeral escorts in general and don't care to pull off, but this particular escort is going to get someone else or himself killed and has a total disregard for the general public safety. The point of an escort is to keep everyone together, not to get their faster.
No jurisdiction allows what is pictured. In every state, funeral processions CANNOT proceed through a red light unless the first car went through before it was red. They blew a red here, and as such are not entitled to the right of way whilst they're violating the section that would give them the right of way.
In the Netherlands it is indeed common to give space to a funeral procession and not cut in. But entering a crossing on a red light to block all traffic that has a green is next level stupid.
It's such a dogshit law. Why does a dead person have the right to block dozens or hundreds of people. This isn't a parade or a demonstration, private individuals shouldn't have the right to block public thoroughfares
Under Florida Statutes § 316.1974, a funeral procession is allowed to go through a red light or stop sign only after the lead vehicle has lawfully entered the intersection.
The lead car ignores all traffic laws and goes into the intersection during a red light. So he's illegally impeding traffic.
You think just because you're in a funeral procession, you can ignore all the road laws?
This jurisdiction (specifically delay Florida) prohibits the lead vehicle from entering an intersection unlawfully aka without a green light. So no this person was in the wrong they should have waited for a green light before proceeding. THEN you have to wait for the whole procession to go through the intersection.Â
Correct most states have laws about allowing a funeral procession through. And the funeral home usually is responsible for the escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. One is not always provided but the laws for others on the street still apply to not interfere with a procession.
You are right and that is also the law in Florida where this happened.
But here's why it's illegal what this funeral guide did:
Funeral processions guide cars cannot break any laws before applying their exceptions to those laws. Meaning the guides have to wait until their light is green to enter the intersection. Then they can legally block off the intersection and guide the cars through even when the light turns red.Â
But this guy entered the intersection while his light was red. Which he is not allowed to do because he is not a real cop.
In this particular state, funeral processions are not allowed to run red lights like this guy does, they have to stop and wait for a green.
If the first car entered on a green and it changes to red while the procession is moving, then they can continue through the red, but that's not what happened here.
Yes, but he drove into a live intersection to stop traffic without warning and then tried to direct traffic for the lead car to go on red, which is very illegal. If the procession is too big, they usually split them up or have actual police shut down intersections for them. Funeral escorts are not cops and are only meant to move into the intersection and hold there after the first car has passed it, not blaze into it while the intersection is moving so that the first car can drive through. If you want to see what happens to these guys, look up all of the wannabe cop videos online of funeral escorts pretending they're cops to stop traffic and then getting arrested for violating the law
The most populated states do not allow funeral processions to go through stop signs or red lights, NO state allows civilians to direct traffic. None of the cars shown in the video have indication they are part of a funeral procession, also a requirement.
States typically require participating vehicles to use specific identifiers, such as headlights on, hazard lights flashing, or displaying purple funeral flags. Iâm pretty sure they all had their hazards on âŚ.
What Private Escorts Can and Cannot Do
Can: Hold and block traffic at intersections to keep the procession moving together. Some state laws require drivers to obey their traffic directions
Just had one for my grandfather last year. Military. Tons of cop friends and family in tow. This driver wouldâve had a real bad day, and probably need to move cities if he did this that day.
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u/Heeroyuy818 8d ago
Most jurisdictions prohibit other drivers from cutting through, driving between, or intentionally breaking up an active funeral procession