49-2701. FUNERAL PROCESSION RIGHT-OF-WAY — FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLES — FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLES. (1) "Funeral procession" means two (2) or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.

(2) "Funeral lead vehicle" means a motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, properly equipped, pursuant to section 49-2702, Idaho Code, leading and facilitating the movement of a funeral procession.

(3) "Funeral escort vehicle" means any motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to section 49-2702, Idaho Code, and which escort facilitates the funeral procession and serves to direct traffic as provided in this section.

(4) Pedestrians and operators of all vehicles, except as stated in subsection (7) of this section, 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.

(5) Whenever the funeral escort vehicle or funeral lead vehicle in a funeral procession enters an intersection, the remainder of the vehicles in such funeral procession may continue to follow the funeral lead vehicle through the intersection, notwithstanding any traffic control device or right-of-way provisions prescribed by statute or local ordinance, provided the operator of each vehicle exercises reasonable care toward any other vehicle or pedestrian on the roadway.

(6) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the driver of a funeral escort vehicle may direct the drivers of other vehicles in a funeral procession to proceed through an intersection or to make turns or other movements despite any official traffic control device. The driver of a funeral escort vehicle may direct and control the drivers of vehicles not in a funeral procession, including those in or approaching an intersection, to stop, proceed, or make turns or other movements without regard to an official traffic control device. Funeral escort vehicles may exceed the speed limit by fifteen (15) miles per hour when overtaking the funeral procession to direct traffic at the next intersection.

(7) Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:

(a) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal; and

(b) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a police officer.

History:

[49-2701, added 1992, ch. 311, sec. 1, p. 924.]