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I never thought about it much, but back in the day we would do funeral escorts if a home told us they had a particularly large funeral going on. Generally it was a short detail, maybe 15 or 20 minutes.

Now here in the South, the city PD does them several times a day... really! Their motor unit handles them and there appears to be little or no notice required, from what I hear on their Alpha channel. Certainly doesn't seem like they are getting reimbursed for it.
 
That's why they should hire an escort detail
Hey, i'm the first one to support the detail trail but it costs enough for loved ones get someone in the ground these days without that additional pinch. Let the poor bastids have their lights if it makes the rest of their sucky jobs a little brighter. They should use green lights like mall security or The Green Lantern.

Ultimately, once again, the real issue lies with our decaying society who has no respect for themselves, never mind others. If you're on patrol and see a scumbag cross the procession, gig em til' it feels good. It's good PR too.
 
I assume there must be some serious liability on the funeral home's part if they get in a crash, especially when they could have hired a police detail motorcycle etc to assist.
 
We have a young Troop that pulled the same two DB's out of a funeral procession, TWICE... and was gifted with a BS complaint from the very wife of the top Bulldog. He was offered a very long suspension - for doing his job. Fortunately he pushed it long enough for command to rethink his witch hunt.
Glad he stood his ground. Those initial offers are bullshite.
 
FWIW, I posted on this a year or so ago after a hearse moved me over with lights and sirens at a major Boston intersection. If memory serves, I got ripped apart on here for complaining.:stomp:
 
We have a young Troop that pulled the same two DB's out of a funeral procession, TWICE... and was gifted with a BS complaint from the very wife of the top Bulldog. He was offered a very long suspension - for doing his job. Fortunately he pushed it long enough for command to rethink his witch hunt.
Sorry to hear. I wasn't aware of that, though I sympathize with the witch hunt for doing ones job. I've made the papers "unavailable for comment" during background while trying to get out of the Hotel California...
Doesn't look good.
 
[be gentle, it's my first post]

There should be "guidelines" and training requirements somewhere for the lay operator of a funeral escort vehicle to safely direct the procession through a controlled intersection, "despite any traffic control device signal to the contrary", including use of "flashing, rotating or oscillating lights as may be assigned by the registrar of motor vehicles", as provided in MGL Ch 85 s. 14A.

I have emailed the DMV Registrar for information about what lights are currently authorized for funerals. If the lights are unauthorized, then mounting and display are illegal.

Just my two cents as a concerned First Responder...
 
If the lights are unauthorized, then mounting and display are illegal.

Glad you figured all this out on your own
Yeah, they probably skipped that chapter over there in Parking Enforcement school. Do your lace panties freeze under your skirt during the winter?

There should be "guidelines" and training requirements somewhere for the lay operator of a funeral escort vehicle ... as provided in MGL Ch 85 s. 14A.

There is, it's called a POLICE DETAIL/ESCORT
Yes, "funeral escort" includes, but is not limited to, "law enforcement personnel", hence the term "lay operator". Thanks for your careful reading.

Being ignorant of the recent changes in this law is nothing to be ashamed of; you are apparently in good company. The goal here should be to increase knowledge, not perpetuate ignorance because it's "too hard" to figure out the right answers, or waste everyone's time by squirting on the noobs.

If the legislature wanted to require LEO escorts, then they probably would have changed that part of the law when they amended it last August. The Governor's Office expressed serious problems with allowing funeral directors to use special lights without needing RMV permits and without being held the same standards as law enforcement or fire and medical responders in POVs. Most, if not all, of the requested amendments were adopted in the final version.

See, e.g., Bill S2568.

Let's see if the RMV has come up with anything, although the statute was vague as to requiring any new "rules".
 
If purple and white strobes/LED's are setting some of you off this 'sighting' will certainly send you over the edge (as it did with me).

Really long story short last month I witnessed a 1997 black Chevy Tahoe, MA Hearse 313 [H313] "escorting a funeral procession". The Tahoe had Red/Blue LEDs flashing along the front headliner, wig-wag, hide-a-way strobes in the front turn signals and reverse lamps, an amber rotator on the dash, and a siren blasting. There was no police detail. I tagged him for traveling 44MPH in a posted 30MPH, crossing double yellow, and failure to stop for a red light. The Operator (also the R.O.) informed me he's the "City Medical Examiner which allows him to display Red/Blue lights". He continued to tell me, on the weekends he uses the vehicle to escort funeral processions. He has no Blue/Red light permit from the RMV.

Unfortunately I've been told not to pursue this matter in order to continue "A good working relationship with the City of Lowell".
 
He has no Blue/Red light permit from the RMV.


Then 90-7E applies.

Unfortunately I've been told not to pursue this matter in order to continue "A good working relationship with the City of Lowell".
If you're okay with working patrol for the rest of your career, then feel free to pursue it. An anonymous tip to the local paper or Mike Beaudet can always help, since sunlight is the best disinfectant.
 
Fortunately, I can pretty much guarantee you that a brother or sister will follow up. :thumbs_up:
I hope one does and they PM me with the results.

One of the many questions I have is; does this guy know someone? How does one drive like this around the down town area of Lowell [in theory every weekend] and not get any attention from all the units in the area (sector patrols, traffic units, portables, responce units, ect)?
 
One of the many questions I have is; does this guy know someone? How does one drive like this around the down town area of Lowell [in theory every weekend] and not get any attention from all the units in the area (sector patrols, traffic units, portables, responce units, ect)?
Because if he's telling the truth that he's some sort of Lowell "official," the LPD guys may be told the same thing you were, to let it go.
 
I understand and respect the concept behind using strobes in a funeral procession - it's illegal (and disrespectful) to cut into a funeral procession, and funeral homes want to eliminate any risk of confusion and even collisions by making it clear that there IS in fact a funeral procession. However: I have never in all my life not been able to distinguish a funeral procession while driving...a very long line of slow-moving vehicles with their hazards on...not too hard to pick up on. About a month ago, I was cruising down 28 and I saw a sedan come over the peak of a hill, and I immediately saw flashing strobes and quickly slowed down and began to pull over, when I realised it was in fact a funeral vehicle. I was almost rear-ended by the driver behind me and was a bit ticked off by the incident. That being said, I think if the Caddy had purple strobes, I probably would have immediately realised it was a funeral vehicle, even with the sun in my eyes.

A number of people have said that it's illegal to use white and/or purple strobes, but I haven't seen anyone provide the specific law from the MGL...I've read the provisions on red and blue light permits before, but I know nothing about white and purple strobes. I'm curious about this from a legal standpoint and not solely an I-hate-whackers standpoint.
 
Reading over your other posts, you are establishing a pattern (also known as a clue.) Its clear you have an unhealthy obsession with whacked out crown victories and you are testing the waters here with what you think you can get away with strapping on your car. Taking the "I hate these guys too, by the way do you prefer strobing or flashing lights" approach isn't fooling anybody. Ill bet a hundred bucks you have a duty belt AND an excuse why you need it.
 
MGL 90/7
General Laws: CHAPTER 90, Section 7

No motor vehicle so operated shall mount or display a flashing, rotating or oscillating light in any direction except pursuant to section seven E of this chapter; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the use of rear directional signals nor to the proper use of vehicle hazard warning signals as provided for by this section.

Purple and white strobes are considered flashing/rotating/oscillating. It doesn't matter what color they are. Red and blue lights are covered in MGL 90/7E.
Hm...I saw a 'traffic management' company with corner strobes on their trucks. If they're contracted by the state, do they fall under the 'protected' entities in Section 7?
 
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