Cop was wrong, you don’t have to pull over facing a funeral procession

[wildride]

“So was the person in the hearse“?? What does that even mean? The deceased was running late?? I totally disagree it was “very, very disrespectful & narcissist” of the OP to proceed as they were. Disrespectful is calling someone a “Karen” because they don’t think the way you do. Narcissistic, like thinking your way is the right way & everybody who doesn’t do what you say is wrong???

The OP’s point was that the police officer gave them incorrect information on traffic law. In most cases, stopping when not necessary impedes traffic & causes more issues. I am in my 60s & have been attending funerals since I was about 12 years old & driving for 45 years. I have never seen oncoming traffic stop for a procession, unless it was to allow them to turn unimpeded.

I am also near 60 and have been driving since 16 & I always let a funeral proceed, I have never seen traffic not stop to let the procession proceed. But then again maybe I think showing a little respect for the deceased is more important than me getting to my destination 1 minute later.

 

[here757]

Guess state law’s vary?
Here in Virginia. Hampton roads. I don’t recall anyone stopping. I do notice during non busy times we tend to slow down pull to right( same as for emergency vehicles)
My grandfather funeral was in Kentucky, very small town of Dawson springs. Everyone pulled right and stopped. Most woman bowed their head, men put their hats on chest and bowed.
Grandpa lived there most of his life, family from there. Doubt they did it because they knew him. But more so outta respect for dead.

 

[kymom99]

We were in Barbourville, KY which is close to Corban. It's a tradition that seems like it would be easier in smaller towns vs. places with crazy traffic. I couldn't imagine it in DC, LA or NYC.

I could almost see it in that setting, especially with the mountain roads. Also the culture may make it the norm. I live in the northern part of the state.

 

[tzolkin]

I had an experience with this recently. I was driving on a main two-lane road at about 55mph. Came around a curve and a car pulled out directly in front of me. Another person pulled out behind me. They were honking, rolled down their window to flip me off, and continued to rev their engine and tailgate me like crazy the rest of the way. I figured out it was a funeral procession once I noticed that every time we passed a car in the opposite direction they were pulled off into the grass.

I'm sure it was rude of me to drive through/divide a funeral procession, but unless I saw the first car how would I have any idea that some random person pulling out in front of me was part of a funeral procession? I think someone driving along at their pace and maybe saying a prayer for the dead would be way more respectful than honking and swearing.

As for the people pulling over on the other side of the road... it was absolutely pouring, so it was very dangerous for the cars coming up behind them to have to slam on their brakes and pull over as well. Several people also got their cars stuck in people's yards because it was so muddy.

 

[Hikergirl]

Hey Karen so was the person in the hearse. Very very disrespectful & narcissistic.It costs you a minute of your life
Sometimes the right thing to do costs you a minute of your life.

Well it's a funeral so really what's the rush.

In any funeral procession I have been in I have never seen anyone pull over to let us by. The only thing that is the norm is that if you are at a red light and it turns green while a procession is going through- you wait until they are all through. The last one I was in I was behind a teen driver and they didn't know that they could "run" the red lights, but every person waiting let them go.

 

[ronandannette]

We were in Barbourville, KY which is close to Corban. It's a tradition that seems like it would be easier in smaller towns vs. places with crazy traffic. I couldn't imagine it in DC, LA or NYC.

You’re right about this, for sure. In high volume city traffic on a route that includes freeways and surface roads, it’s impossible to do anything that varies too widely from the regular traffic laws. You just can’t count on the other drivers recognizing what’s going on and their reactions to an unexpected situation is dangerous. Leading procession in the city is really tough and at least at our funeral home, there was always a brief but concise time of instruction given to all participants before we started out.

I had an experience with this recently. I was driving on a main two-lane road at about 55mph. Came around a curve and a car pulled out directly in front of me. Another person pulled out behind me. They were honking, rolled down their window to flip me off, and continued to rev their engine and tailgate me like crazy the rest of the way. I figured out it was a funeral procession once I noticed that every time we passed a car in the opposite direction they were pulled off into the grass.

I'm sure it was rude of me to drive through/divide a funeral procession, but unless I saw the first car how would I have any idea that some random person pulling out in front of me was part of a funeral procession? I think someone driving along at their pace and maybe saying a prayer for the dead would be way more respectful than honking and swearing.

As for the people pulling over on the other side of the road... it was absolutely pouring, so it was very dangerous for the cars coming up behind them to have to slam on their brakes and pull over as well. Several people also got their cars stuck in people's yards because it was so muddy.

I’ve never been to a funeral where they didn’t provide window stickers to the participants of a procession. Big, bright large stickers that say “Funeral” in bold letters. Of course all the official vehicles also have flags on them and the lead and end vehicles often have flashing lights - purple is the traditional colour.

 

[mjkacmom]

Hey Karen so was the person in the hearse. Very very disrespectful & narcissistic.It costs you a minute of your life
Sometimes the right thing to do costs you a minute of your life.

Here in NJ if you stopped going the opposite way of a funeral processions folks would honk, get out of their vehicles and move your car for you.

 

[tzolkin]

I’ve never been to a funeral where they didn’t provide window stickers to the participants of a procession. Big, bright large stickers that say “Funeral” in bold letters. Of course all the official vehicles also have flags on them and the lead and end vehicles often have flashing lights - purple is the traditional colour.

No window stickers. Maybe because we are in a very rural county and there's not much traffic. I have seen signs when I've been to funerals in busier areas. There was a lead vehicle with a small flag followed by a hearse but since those vehicles were already driving on the same road I was on and were well ahead of me with many cars in between there was no way I could see them (until they turned off down another road about 5 miles later). It was pouring rain, I came around a curve, and just saw a random car pull out in front of me. There were only two more cars at that crossroad and none of them were marked so it just looked like three people at a stop sign on a back country road waiting to make a right turn.

If I would have seen the beginning of the procession and known it was a funeral, I would have come to a stop and let all of the cars pull out together. But, since I came upon it mid/end procession I don't know how the participants expected me to know there was even a procession going on. I think it was one of those situations where because they have just had an experience/have information, they assume it's obvious to everyone else.

 

[LSUmiss]

Here in NJ if you stopped going the opposite way of a funeral processions folks would honk, get out of their vehicles and move your car for you.

Same here! Ppl would lose it!

 

[okeydokey]

I am also near 60 and have been driving since 16 & I always let a funeral proceed, I have never seen traffic not stop to let the procession proceed. But then again maybe I think showing a little respect for the deceased is more important than me getting to my destination 1 minute later.

I think the OP was actually talking about the officer lying about the law, not about whether in his area it is customary for people to pull over in both directions for a funeral possession.

 

[pweyl36]

Do you live in Florida?
Are you sure it was a PO and not Jeremy Dewitte?

OMG, I was about to ask the same thing.haha

 

[_19disnA]

In every state where I have lived, the norm I am aware of is that the funeral procession has the right of way and doesn't have to stop for red lights, stop signs, etc. and you should give them the right of way until the procession has passed by. Each car in every procession I have ever been involved with was given a magnetic flag to display on their vehicle. There was also an official vehicle (either someone from the funeral home or police) who was the last car of the procession. When crossing busy intersections, the last car would direct traffic until the procession passed. I don't recall seeing anyone traveling the opposite direction stopping, so perhaps that is some sort of local practice.

If someone chooses to stop who is going in the opposite direction, that is their choice, but they should pull off to the side to avoid causing an accident. To me there is a difference between what is the law and what the local 'norms' might be.

 

[Minnesota!]

You must not have ever been to Minneapolis. It happens all the time, driver's are very passive and will stop at the end of an entrance ramp until somebody stops on the freeway to let them in.

THIS!

To be fair, there's also no law against farting in an elevator full of people either...but I'm gonna make a bold statement in saying I totally get to say that not farting in an elevator full of people is the "right thing".

I like you!

In my part of northern CA, some hire companies that provide motorcycle escorts made up of off duty police. If they are directing traffic at an intersection, you would follow their direction but you would not stop if going in the opposite direction (to show respect). However, when I moved to OK for 7 years, they did stop on all sides of the rode to show respect. Different culture. Having worked for the sheriff's dept for a while, I'd like to know what those police officers are threatening a person with if there is no law? That to me appears to be more against the law than what the driver was actually doing. When I lived in OK, not one person could tell me if it was a law or not, just what they do. I suspect those officers grew up with the same culture and just assumed everyone knew it was done.

Motorcycles aren't standard with funerals everywhere? I am not sure I have been to one without motorcycle guidance, nor seen a procession without one. My dad's processional was almost 2 miles long...I cannot imagine there not being someone to direct traffic.

I am not sure I see people pull over going the opposite way, here, but there is always uniformity in the group - since there is a lead and a end cop to keep them together.

 

[amcnj]

If I would have seen the beginning of the procession and known it was a funeral, I would have come to a stop and let all of the cars pull out together. But, since I came upon it mid/end procession I don't know how the participants expected me to know there was even a procession going on. I think it was one of those situations where because they have just had an experience/have information, they assume it's obvious to everyone else.

Years ago it was a little easier to tell it was a funeral procession during the day as those vehicles were the only ones with headlights on. But that is no longer the case, so it is much tougher to figure out.

 

[amcnj]

Motorcycles aren't standard with funerals everywhere? I am not sure I have been to one without motorcycle guidance, nor seen a procession without one. My dad's processional was almost 2 miles long...I cannot imagine there not being someone to direct traffic.

Motorcycles are not the norm by me. Once in a while I see them, and always assumed they were for a police officer or politician. But maybe it was for a lengthy procession.

The only funeral I was involved with that had them was for a former police officer and motorcycle cops did block the cross streets at every intersection.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

I'm 48 years old and I've maybe seen one funeral procession in my entire life. Where are people running into all these funeral processions?!!

 

[amcnj]

Like many here, I always stop to allow the funeral procession vehicles to stay together, but never stopped otherwise, in either direction. Usually the procession is going slower than me, as I tend to have a heavy foot!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm 48 years old and I've maybe seen one funeral procession in my entire life. Where are people running into all these funeral processions?!!

Really?! I‘ve seen dozens, local roads and highways. My 3 mile town has 2 funeral homes. I do live in a densely populated area.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Really?! I‘ve seen dozens, local roads and highways. My 3 mile town has 2 funeral homes. I do live in a densely populated area.

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and have lived in the Green Bay, WI area for the past 25ish years. The one procession that I do remember is from my time living in the Chicago burbs. Otherwise, nada.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm 48 years old and I've maybe seen one funeral procession in my entire life. Where are people running into all these funeral processions?!!

Depending on where you live, you may never see one. Here in Canada, statistics say that 74% of dispositions are direct cremation with no formal service, let alone an interment that would require "processing" from the funeral home to cemetery. I come from a family who "buries" and I worked at a funeral home so it's all familiar to me but I bet I could ask the next 10 people that walk by
me and most would have no clue what I'm even talking about.