'Not just etiquette' to yield to funeral processions

One of the darkest moments in a family’s lives often includes a long line of cars following a hearse through town.

Yielding for funeral processions is a sign of respect and courtesy to the family of the deceased, but it’s also the law. Parker Kohl Funeral Home Owner and Funeral Director Steve Kohl said there’s still times it doesn’t happen.

“People do this out of respect and courtesy for the family and for the person that has passed,” he said.

Faribault Police Chief John Sherwin said it’s not just common courtesy.

“It’s more than just etiquette to yield to a funeral procession, it’s actually required under Minnesota ‘Right of Way’ laws,” he said.

The funeral home does have another way to get people to stop. Buckham West Senior Center provides volunteers to drive a community-service vehicle with emergency lights to escort them to the cemetery, which Kohl said gets most people to pull over.

“Occasionally, there will be vehicles that don’t pull over and continue on their way,” he said.

Mayor Kevin Voracek noted hearing some constituents complain about vehicles not yielding, and said it’s possibly a matter of never being taught the courtesy by one’s parents.

Sherwin said he doesn’t believe it’s all that common in town, but could happen for a number of reasons.

“I have not heard of this being a widespread problem locally, but I am certain it occurs, either through a lack of education, driver distraction or other reason,” he said.

He cited Minnesota’s Right of Way laws, and compared yielding to a funeral procession to yielding to an emergency vehicle. The statute says drivers must yield to a procession identifying itself by “using regular lights on all cars and by keeping all cars in close formation.”

“Failure to yield, if reported to or observed by an officer, could result in a citation being issued for failure to yield the right of way,” Sherwin added.

Joe Pientka, who teaches driver’s education in Faribault, said the right of way and yielding portion of the class is when they cover funeral processions. He cited the Minnesota Drivers Manual, which states processions identify themselves with headlights or hazard lights.

“We discuss it with the kids and tell them it is a common courtesy thing that they should observe as they pull to the right and stop,” he said.

Boldt Funeral Home Owner Scott Boldt added that it’s illegal to disrupt a funeral by protesting within 500 feet, or by impeding the vehicles in the procession.

He also said passing drivers should turn down their music and refrain from honking or shouting as the procession passes.