Minnesota Statutes 609.501 – Funeral or Burial Service; Prohibited Acts
Subdivision 1.Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
Attorney's Note
Under the Minnesota Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Gross misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $3,000 |
| Misdemeanor | up to 90 days | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 609.501
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(b) “Family or household” has the meaning given to family or household member in section 518B.01, subdivision 2.
(c) “Funeral ceremony” has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 18.
(d) “Funeral procession” means two or more motor vehicles that identify themselves by using regular lights and by keeping themselves in close formation, one of which contains the body of a deceased person, enroute to or from a funeral ceremony or a graveside service.
(e) “Graveside service” has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 24.
(f) “Memorial service” has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 28.
(g) “Targeted residential picketing” has the meaning given in section 609.748, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), but does not require more than one act or that acts be committed on more than one occasion.
Subd. 2.Crime to disrupt.
(a) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1) with intent to disrupt a funeral ceremony, graveside service, or memorial service, protests or pickets within 500 feet of the burial site or the entrance to a facility or location being used for the service or ceremony, within one hour prior to, during, or one hour following the service or ceremony;
(2) with intent to disrupt a funeral procession, impedes or attempts to impede a vehicle that is part of the procession;
(3) intentionally blocks or attempts to block access to a funeral ceremony, graveside service, or memorial service; or
(4) knowingly engages in targeted residential picketing at the home or domicile of any surviving member of the deceased person’s family or household on the date of the funeral ceremony, graveside service, or memorial service.
(b) Whoever is convicted of a violation of paragraph (a) following a previous conviction for a violation of paragraph (a) or a similar statute from another state or the United States is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
Subd. 3.Civil remedy.
A person who violates subdivision 2 is liable to a surviving member of the deceased person’s family or household for damages caused by the violation. A surviving member of the deceased person’s family or household may also bring an action for injunctive relief and other appropriate relief or remedial compensation. In an action brought under this subdivision, a prevailing plaintiff may recover attorney fees.