Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:300.3 – Funeral processions
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:300.3
- Divided highway: means any highway divided into roadways by a median, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel, including bridges, causeways, tunnels and ferries; synonymous with the word "street". See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Intersection: means : The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Motor vehicle: means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, but excluding a motorized bicycle and an electric-assisted bicycle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Operator: means every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Pedestrian: means any person afoot or utilizing a mobility aid. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
- Roadway: means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Traffic: means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
- Vehicle: means every device by which persons or things may be transported upon a public highway or bridge, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1
A. As used in this Section, the term “funeral procession” shall mean two or more vehicles accompanying a deceased person or cremated human remains during daylight hours.
B. Except for an authorized emergency or law enforcement vehicle making use of audible or visual signals, or when directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer, pedestrians and operators of all motor vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle participating in a funeral procession. However, the operator of a motor vehicle may pass a funeral procession which is traveling in the right lane of a divided highway, multiple-lane highway, or interstate. If the procession has a police escort, whenever the lead vehicle in a funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, the remainder of the vehicles in the procession may continue to follow through the intersection notwithstanding any signals from traffic control devices. A motor vehicle participating in a funeral procession shall not leave the procession while it is traveling unless specifically permitted to do so by a law enforcement officer or by making a right turn out of the procession. No motor vehicle which leaves a funeral procession shall be permitted to rejoin the procession. The operator of each vehicle participating in a funeral procession shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any other vehicle or pedestrian upon the roadway.
C. No person shall operate a vehicle in a funeral procession unless the headlights of such vehicle are lighted and its emergency lights are flashing.
D. This Section shall not create a cause of action or substantive legal rights against any funeral home, its director, or any of its employees or agents, or any law enforcement agency or officer. Furthermore, a funeral home, its director, or any of its employees or agents, or any law enforcement agency or officer shall not be held liable for a violation of this Section if the operator of a motor vehicle fails to exercise due care while participating in a funeral procession.
E. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be assessed a penalty of one hundred dollars for each violation.
Acts 2006, No. 751, §1, eff. June 30, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 257, §1.