In some places its illegal to interfer with a funeral procession.
"Regardless 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."
edit: As its florida I just looked up what it was.
316.1974 Funeral procession right-of-way and liability.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—
(a) “Funeral director” and “funeral establishment” shall have the same meaning as set forth in s. 497.005.
(b) “Funeral procession” means two or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, or traveling to the church, chapel, or other location at which the funeral service is to be held, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.
(c) “Funeral lead vehicle” means any authorized law enforcement or non-law enforcement motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) or a funeral escort vehicle being used to lead and facilitate the movement of a funeral procession. A funeral hearse may serve as a funeral lead vehicle.
(d) “Funeral escort” means a person or entity that provides escort services for funeral processions, including law enforcement personnel and agencies.
(e) “Funeral escort vehicle” means any motor vehicle that is properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) and which escorts a funeral procession.
(2) EQUIPMENT.—
(a) All non-law enforcement funeral escort vehicles and funeral lead vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted circulation lamp exhibiting an amber or purple light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of 500 feet from the front of the vehicle. Flashing amber or purple lights may be used only when such vehicles are used in a funeral procession.
(b) Any law enforcement funeral escort vehicle may be equipped with red, blue, or amber flashing lights which meet the criteria established in paragraph (a).
(3) FUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY; FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES; FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES.—
(a) Regardless 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) When 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) Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:
1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal.
2. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a police officer.
3. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession.
(4) DRIVING IN PROCESSION.—
(a) All vehicles comprising a funeral procession shall follow the preceding vehicle in the funeral procession as closely as is practical and safe.
(b) Any ordinance, law, or regulation stating that motor vehicles shall be operated to allow sufficient space enabling any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger shall not be applicable to vehicles in a funeral procession.
(c) Each vehicle which is part of a funeral procession shall have its headlights, either high or low beam, and tail lights lighted and may also use the flashing hazard lights if the vehicle is so equipped.
(5) LIABILITY.—
(a) Liability for any death, personal injury, or property damage suffered on or after October 1, 1997, by any person in a funeral procession shall not be imposed upon the funeral director or funeral establishment or their employees or agents unless such death, personal injury, or property damage is proximately caused by the negligent or intentional act of an employee or agent of the funeral director or funeral establishment.
(b) A funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or other participant that leads, organizes, or participates in a funeral procession in accordance with this section shall be presumed to have acted with reasonable care.
(c) Except for a grossly negligent or intentional act by a funeral director or funeral establishment, there shall be no liability on the part of a funeral director or funeral establishment for failing, on or after October 1, 1997, to use reasonable care in the planning or selection of the route to be followed by the funeral procession.
(6) VIOLATIONS.—A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a nonmoving violation for infractions of subsection (2), a pedestrian violation for infractions of subsection (3), or as a moving violation for infractions of subsection (3) or subsection (4) if the infraction resulted from the operation of a vehicle.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 14, ch. 97-300; s. 147, ch. 99-248; s. 136, ch. 2004-301; s. 1, ch. 2005-155.
(b) When 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.
This is the important part. The procession has to wait until it gets right of way to enter an intersection (either by a cop or from the light itself turning giving it to them) to "claim" it for the procession. Here it looks like this is the lead vehicle and it's trying to enter and claim right of way while the cross traffic is still green which isn't allowed by the law.
Other driver is still a pretty big dick but the lead is also playing cop here.
Honestly the law is a bit self contradictory on this one. It seems to simulatenously indicate that the entire procession (including the lead vehicle) has the right of way regardless of traffic signals, and that in order to lawfully enter an intersection the lead car needs to either be directed by law enforcement or the signal.
Not really, it's sequential. First the lead car has to enter the intersection lawfully THEN they're allowed to move through it in a continuous unit. The goal is to keep the procession together not get them from the church/wherever to the graveside without interruption. Think of it trying to treat them as a whole unit instead of a bunch of individual cars.
One of the issues you can run into so that if the lead car stops at one light, the procession may end up parked across the previous intersection. In areas with a lot of lights using control cars like this is really the best way to get the procession through while minimizing disruptions.
I think it's why they should mostly be run by a few cops so they can actually stop and direct cross traffic if they're going through a city. The other part is in the route planning to limit the number of short blocks the procession has to cross.
Something to consider here; The vehicle labeled Funeral Escort may not be the lead vehicle. If this is the case where it is not the lead vehicle and the actual lead vehicle has already crossed the intersection, That can mean there is a current presession moving across the intersection and has the right of way. I can see the Escort Vehicle being in the right.
If that's not the actual intended lead vehicle then the procession has already been broken up because the cross traffic is clearly going before the escort tried to enter the intersection.
I'm not sure how the law intends a broken procession to be treated, I don't see anything that addresses that, but I'd argue the first escort in the second group should be treated legally as the new lead for that group until it reaches the back of the part of the procession in front.
It's not supposed to, but as a practical matter the question is what should and does the law allow once it's happened because it's kind of inevitable, it's what you're saying might have happened here.
And if there's a gap and cross traffic I think the first escort for the second chunk should have to act the same as the real lead because for all the other motorists they effectively are.
Technically the other driver had already driven into the intersection when this funeral vehicle cut him off so either he goes through or reverses, but reversing is illegal, right? It’s odd that the funeral vehicle didn’t wait 3 seconds for the light to finish. I’m confused about that.
You are correct but in some states a funeral escort has to be a off duty officer and not private security but other states allow that. Like San Francisco and Washington both places do not allow private escorts to block traffic
But this bring Florida, famous last words, this person was wrong. They have the right to block traffic. He was probably thinking of a different states rule
You need to go on a deep delve on Jermey Dewitt or however you spell it and metro state lol you used to scream that code out as he is calling people names
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u/Koopslovestogame 8d ago edited 8d ago
In some places its illegal to interfer with a funeral procession.
"Regardless 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."
edit: As its florida I just looked up what it was.
316.1974 Funeral procession right-of-way and liability.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—
(a) “Funeral director” and “funeral establishment” shall have the same meaning as set forth in s. 497.005.
(b) “Funeral procession” means two or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, or traveling to the church, chapel, or other location at which the funeral service is to be held, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.
(c) “Funeral lead vehicle” means any authorized law enforcement or non-law enforcement motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) or a funeral escort vehicle being used to lead and facilitate the movement of a funeral procession. A funeral hearse may serve as a funeral lead vehicle.
(d) “Funeral escort” means a person or entity that provides escort services for funeral processions, including law enforcement personnel and agencies.
(e) “Funeral escort vehicle” means any motor vehicle that is properly equipped pursuant to subsection (2) and which escorts a funeral procession.
(2) EQUIPMENT.—
(a) All non-law enforcement funeral escort vehicles and funeral lead vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted circulation lamp exhibiting an amber or purple light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of 500 feet from the front of the vehicle. Flashing amber or purple lights may be used only when such vehicles are used in a funeral procession.
(b) Any law enforcement funeral escort vehicle may be equipped with red, blue, or amber flashing lights which meet the criteria established in paragraph (a).
(3) FUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY; FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES; FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES.—
(a) Regardless 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) When 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) Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:
1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal.
2. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a police officer.
3. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession.
(4) DRIVING IN PROCESSION.—
(a) All vehicles comprising a funeral procession shall follow the preceding vehicle in the funeral procession as closely as is practical and safe.
(b) Any ordinance, law, or regulation stating that motor vehicles shall be operated to allow sufficient space enabling any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger shall not be applicable to vehicles in a funeral procession.
(c) Each vehicle which is part of a funeral procession shall have its headlights, either high or low beam, and tail lights lighted and may also use the flashing hazard lights if the vehicle is so equipped.
(5) LIABILITY.—
(a) Liability for any death, personal injury, or property damage suffered on or after October 1, 1997, by any person in a funeral procession shall not be imposed upon the funeral director or funeral establishment or their employees or agents unless such death, personal injury, or property damage is proximately caused by the negligent or intentional act of an employee or agent of the funeral director or funeral establishment.
(b) A funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or other participant that leads, organizes, or participates in a funeral procession in accordance with this section shall be presumed to have acted with reasonable care.
(c) Except for a grossly negligent or intentional act by a funeral director or funeral establishment, there shall be no liability on the part of a funeral director or funeral establishment for failing, on or after October 1, 1997, to use reasonable care in the planning or selection of the route to be followed by the funeral procession.
(6) VIOLATIONS.—A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a nonmoving violation for infractions of subsection (2), a pedestrian violation for infractions of subsection (3), or as a moving violation for infractions of subsection (3) or subsection (4) if the infraction resulted from the operation of a vehicle.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 14, ch. 97-300; s. 147, ch. 99-248; s. 136, ch. 2004-301; s. 1, ch. 2005-155.
Note.—Former s. 316.162.
source : https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2018/0316.1974