Funeral procession

Originally Posted by desertrat

Everyone I saw did. And yeah, it was a dark day and everyone elses light were on too. If I hadn't spotted the hearse I'd have though they were just all running the light. So, then, why is a police escort and shutting down intersections necessary for a larger funeral? What's the cutoff point? Or is it just police and other "important" individuals that get that.

Unless the rules have changed, I think its for anyone. I've been in several and they weren't "important" people or police or anything. Just normal people.

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Maybe they should just roll three abreast down 235 at 30mph and everyone can show their respect by following along behind.

MD state police did this on 495 for a funeral procession about a year ago. They would block the ramps to the beltway as the procession approached, in the lead was cops lined up all the way across the road, then the procession in the center lane, then more cops lined up across all the lanes behind them. I got lucky and had my ramp closed right behind me. I fell in right behind the cop in the center lane and played tail end charlie from exit 30 (Rt. 29) all the way to Rt. 4. (exit 11?). Made the best time ever getting around the beltway, even at 40 or 45 mph.

[jfrenaye]

A lot of the escort stuff has to do with the size and route and the impact it may have on traffic and safety of other drivers. Of course dignitaries and so forth usually get it. But if the procession goes through some bad curves or intersections, they will have an escort. IT get's confusing if you go through multiple jurisdictions--like from AA, PG, DC, and Arlington to be buried at Arlington.

Red light cameras, most funeral hokes will just tell the prosessional that IF they get a ticket to send it to the funeral home and they hanlde it. They have a form that they send to the MSP and the tickets get voided without a court appearance or anything.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Tomcat

38 years ago Rt235 was 2 lanes from Waldorf to the base, then I think it was still a dirt road to Point Lookout.

NO!!!!!!!!!!

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by desertrat

As I was driving home yesterday a funeral procession passed me going the other way. Lead, of course, by a hearse. There were maybe 50 cars and when the light at Town Creek turned red they just kept coming through. Is this normal? They had no police escort or anything. People stopped and let them through, but they seemed a bit confused by it all.

yes, this is normal, always has been.. and I've never known one to require a police escort as this is just normal courtesy to stop for a funeral procession. it's not too much to ask for ONE time in someone's life that they have the right of way..

The people in the procession should have had their headlights on...

I haven't been to a lot of funerals, but the ones I've been to, this has been the way they did it.