Funeral processions

[gunrun45]

It is not ridiculous. It brings to light an issue with security guards acting as LEO's. If that is ridiculous to you then I guess you don't mind if Pinkerton comes when you call 911.

I wouldn't have to call and complain. I'm sure that with a few citations, the company would be calling me.

You do realize that is some cities, they do... Just thought I would throw that out there

[desmark6]

UNIT74, so is it also your opinion that we should cite CalTrans everytime they block a lane and cause a traffic issue, I mean, they are not LEO and they are complicating you very precious day!!

GEEZ! To be honest, I would be looking for a reason to give you, UNIT74, a citation for whatever I could if you were to disrespect the grieving family/deceased person by interferring with/driving through/ or whatever the procession.

May be time to re-evaluate your life and what is truly important, and a few extra minutes getting to work SHOULD NOT be that important to you.

[masameet]

Well, just for you, Unit74, I called a few numbers to find these guys. So, if you're so inclined, you can give them a call and chew them out for being "security guards."

Coastal Motor Escorts is a bunch of retired motor cops here in the East Bay. Some riders complain about them looking like wannabe cops. But from the photos and captions, anyone can deduce that they were cops at one time. (And I really like that purplish-colored signal on the first bike in the group photo. lol)

Since they're all ex-cops, I would venture to guess that they're very well versed in the local county and city laws regarding escorting funeral processions as civilians. Since at least one of the bikes has the CHP logo on the fairing, I would guess that that ex-LEO probably bought his old bike on retirement. OPD motors are still into Harleys so the one retired OPD officer with the BMW has definitely gone off the reservation! (J/K!)

Also as former motor cops, if that's what they were, they're most likely very well trained in escorting vehicles and blocking traffic.

[FLIGHT762]

Local authorities may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution to regulate traffic at such locations that may require traffic directions for orderly traffic flow. It is the purpose of this amendment to use the power, conferred on the City of Stockton , pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21100(e), to appoint persons other than traffic officers to direct and regulate traffic for a funeral procession.

http://www.stocktongov.com/smc/Chapter10/Ch10_PartXIV.cfm

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d02/vc2817.htm

if the peace officer is in a peace officer's uniform, and is in the process of escorting a funeral procession,

Unit 74, Two shots correctly pointed out the law regarding (21100(e)) to appoint persons other than traffic officers, even temporarily. As he also pointed out, it is local city ordinance which covers them(the temporary traffic officers) they (their company) would have to comply with the city ordinance of being certified to preform this temporary traffic duty. If in fact, they are certified as Two shots pointed out in the Stockton city ordinance, If you drove through or interfered with the procession, you would likely be cited for a city ordinance violation.

In the city I worked for we also had an ordinance covering driving through a funeral procession.

I understand your frustration with security guards stopping traffic, I felt the same way until understanding the law. Since funeral processions can travel through several jurisdictions, you wouldn't know the city ordinances for each jurisdiction. In the example given by Two shots for the city of Stockton, If certified, these security guards can stop cross traffic as long as the front vehicle entered the intersection when the light is green. All other motorists will have to wait until the procession passes.

In some jurisdictions, these security guards may not have the authority to stop traffic. I do know that in Colma,Ca. that city takes funeral processions very seriously and have very strict ordinances regarding driving through or interfering with a procession.

Vehicle code 2817 deals directly with Peace officers directing a procession. That is the citing section for failure to obey them. If the security guards are certified, the violator would be cited for a City ordinance section.

As frustrating as it is, I feel it's prudent to just obey the directions of these guys unless you specifically know the ordinances in the jurisdiction your in, but you're taking a chance of being cited yourself.

[Unit74]

What's up with the personal shots guys? I did not make it personal to you guys.

The OP asked for opinions and that's what I gave. I am not the judge or the jury. But it is my opinion that here in SoCal, these guys on bikes are not following the law. Plain and simple.

I'm not trying to beef the grieving family at all. But the funeral homes are hiring guys to break the laws as a policy. I have no idea about your local ordinances, but in these parts, it's unlawful to hold traffic unless you are a traffic officer or LEO.

What else is there to explain?

[FLIGHT762]

What's up with the personal shots guys? I did not make it personal to you guys.

The OP asked for opinions and that's what I gave. I am not the judge or the jury. But it is my opinion that here in SoCal, these guys on bikes are not following the law. Plain and simple.

I'm not trying to beef the grieving family at all. But the funeral homes are hiring guys to break the laws as a policy. I have no idea about your local ordinances, about in these parts, it's unlawful to hold traffic unless you are a traffic officer or LEO.

What else is there to explain?

I was only trying to explain this to you. Do you know for a factThat the city or county you are complaining about has absolutely no city/county ordinances covering this? Just about every jurisdiction has some ordinances covering funeral processions. I think if you want a definite answer from your area, I would suggest you go to the local CHP office and speak to a supervisor with your questions. If they don't have an immediate answer to your question, they will get it for you. As a law enforcement officer, I've called them or went to their office to get questions answered about window tinting enforcement and non compliance questions among others. They are very helpful and have answered my questions. The vehicle code is a large document and can be difficult to navigate . You may find out you are right, but if you find out some of these guys are allowed to do this, no sense getting your blood pressure up over something you can't control.

I get miffed every time a Harley drives past me with their illegal loud exhaust pipes. As an officer, I tried to enforce this, but quickly found my self alone in enforcing this. Officers I worked with had illegal pipes on their personal Harleys and would not enforce the law. I got into a a few shouting matches with them over this. Only me a couple of other of my officers would enforce the window tinting laws. I had to purchase a my own electronic tint meter to measure the darkness of the tint and to avoid lengthy arguments. This is a whole other story. Enough of that.

Good luck with yours.

[Unit74]

I get miffed every time a Harley drives past me with their illegal loud exhaust pipes. As an officer, I tried to enforce this, but quickly found my self alone in enforcing this.

Good luck with yours.

We had an MC enforcement op. and most of them got tickets for 27151. A CARB rep showed up at the court day and pretty much said we were SOL of enforcement on M/Cs.

Reason being is that the BAR doesn't have any inspection stations capable of dealing with M/C's. So, sure, you can cite em for it, but if they contest, it should be dismissed as they cannot get an in-compliance notice from the BAR at this time. CARB is working on a solution to the matter though.

[compsoftstation]

Plain and simple... Take a different route home! Problem solved!