Traffic/Driving Question

[jenscats5]

OK, say you're sitting at a stoplight where traffic in front of you goes in two directions. As you're sitting there at the red light, say a funeral procession is proceeding thru the light, from left to right, then the light changes to green, normally allowing you to go.

Well, since the funeral procession is going thru, they have the right of way & you can't go. But what if there's a break in the procession & a car that is technically part of the procession goes thru the light but doesn't have their lights on & placard on the rear view - who's fault is the accident??

 

[Sassy69]

respect the dead.

 

[jenscats5]

respect the dead.

 

[bb079]

the police are. there should have been one in that intersection to regulate traffic.

 

[jenscats5]

the police are. there should have been one in that intersection to regulate traffic.

But they can't be at every intersection can they??

 

[biteme]

I would have to go with the funeral car.

 

[bb079]

how long was the procession? i have heard of lawsuits arising from his very situation. and yes, they must above all things have public safety at th top of the list, and it sounds to me like they dropped the ball.

 

[jenscats5]

how long was the procession? i have heard of lawsuits arising from his very situation. and yes, they must above all things have public safety at th top of the list, and it sounds to me like they dropped the ball.

Well that's what I was wondering.....is there any precedent??

I was just wondering this hypothetically......so say the procession is 20 cars long but the 20th car is a bit behind the other 19 cars & gets hit as they are somewhat separated from the rest of the procession.......Who's at fault?? And does it matter if they have their lights on & the placard or not??

 

[biteme]

Well that's what I was wondering.....is there any precedent??

I was just wondering this hypothetically......so say the procession is 20 cars long but the 20th car is a bit behind the other 19 cars & gets hit as they are somewhat separated from the rest of the procession.......Who's at fault?? And does it matter if they have their lights on & the placard or not??

You've got too much time on your hands. LOL

 

[jenscats5]

You've got too much time on your hands. LOL

No, I just think of strange things like this.......

 

[bb079]

Well that's what I was wondering.....is there any precedent??

I was just wondering this hypothetically......so say the procession is 20 cars long but the 20th car is a bit behind the other 19 cars & gets hit as they are somewhat separated from the rest of the procession.......Who's at fault?? And does it matter if they have their lights on & the placard or not??

varys from state to state. in louisiana, there is nothing on the book saying that vehicles must have on headlights or have placard. infact in rarely see the headlights. i would think that the funeral directors should remind people of this. in louisiana you may not enter into the procession line for any reason, so to answer your question, by letter of the law, the vehicle that crossed into the procession would be at fault. but if i were the driver of that vehicle, i would emphatically argue this

 

[jenscats5]

varys from state to state. in louisiana, there is nothing on the book saying that vehicles must have on headlights or have placard. infact in rarely see the headlights. i would think that the funeral directors should remind people of this. in louisiana you may not enter into the procession line for any reason, so to answer your question, by letter of the law, the vehicle that crossed into the procession would be at fault. but if i were the driver of that vehicle, i would emphatically argue this

Interesting.......

Here they must have headlights on & a card hanging from the rearview mirror.....

I'll have to look it up if I can.....

 

[bb079]

Interesting.......

Here they must have headlights on & a card hanging from the rearview mirror.....

I'll have to look it up if I can.....

check your states website. most of them have laws and reg. listed. happy hunting.

 

[jenscats5]

Found this:

c) 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.

 

[bb079]

Found this:

c) 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.

there you go. you could also check with the le agency that was escorting the funeral, and asked to see there s.o.p. in regards to funeral escorts. i am sure you will find that on paper it does say that an officer will occupy all intersections to ensure the flow of the procession and to regulate all other traffic.

 

[moose11]

legally do u have to stop or pullover for funeral processions?

 

[bb079]

legally do u have to stop or pullover for funeral processions?

again, depends on your state law, but most processions are led by a marked police unit with emergency lights activated. and no matter what state you are in you must yield to the right for emergency vehicles. as far as oncoming traffic, in louisiana, no, you do not have to pull over, but it is courtesy to do so.

 

[jenscats5]

BB - check this out, you may find it interesting, being in LA & all...

http://www.la3circuit.org/opinions/2003/12/122303/03-0559opi.pdf

 

[bb079]

good read. and it is true. it is not law that any le agency has to provide a funeral escort, it is only a courtesy. however did you know that most funeral homes, where i am from anyways, actually charge for the police escort. it i true. i have a prepaid burial plan and as i was reading the contract i noticed this 75.00 escort charge. when i inquired, i was informed that it was for the police escort. and i know for a fact that this money does not go to the police department. and i ofcourse refused to pay this fee. but they wanted my business, so it was subtracted from the negotiated final total.

 

[jenscats5]

good read. and it is true. it is not law that any le agency has to provide a funeral escort, it is only a courtesy. however did you know that most funeral homes, where i am from anyways, actually charge for the police escort. it i true. i have a prepaid burial plan and as i was reading the contract i noticed this 75.00 escort charge. when i inquired, i was informed that it was for the police escort. and i know for a fact that this money does not go to the police department. and i ofcourse refused to pay this fee. but they wanted my business, so it was subtracted from the negotiated final total.

It was interesting & I happened to find it - thought you may find it interesting since you're in LA...



I would imagine tho, that if a car was separated from the procession by several car lengths & they collided in an intersection, they'd be at fault....but who knows??

I used to know a guy who ran a funeral home, but lost touch with him or I'd ask him.......

 

[bb079]

It was interesting & I happened to find it - thought you may find it interesting since you're in LA...



I would imagine tho, that if a car was separated from the procession by several car lengths & they collided in an intersection, they'd be at fault....but who knows??

I used to know a guy who ran a funeral home, but lost touch with him or I'd ask him.......

i have to agree with you. they would be at fault in my opinion. i know most of the funeral directors around here, and they all charge for the escort. one attempted to justify it. said that scheduling police escorts takes time, and they feel they should be reimbursed for that time. nevermind the fact that they will charge $4000 for a simple pine box.