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2001 SESSION


CHAPTER 359
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-828 and 46.2-1040 of the Code of Virginia, relating to funeral processions; use of hazard lights by vehicles in funeral processions.
[S 1398]
Approved March 19, 2001

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46.2-828 and 46.2-1040 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-828. Right-of-way for funeral processions under police or sheriff's escort; improper joining of, passing through, or interfering with processions prohibited; use of hazard lights by vehicles traveling in funeral procession.

Funeral processions traveling under police or sheriff's escort shall have the right-of-way in any highway through which they may pass. Localities may, by ordinance, provide for such escort service and provide for the imposition of reasonable fees to defray the cost of such service.

The sheriff in any locality not having a separate police department may provide traffic control for funeral processions when equipment and personnel are not otherwise engaged in law-enforcement activities.

Vehicles traveling as part of a funeral procession may flash all four turn signals or hazard lights to identify themselves as part of the procession.

No vehicle that is not properly part of a funeral procession shall join, pass through, or interfere with the passage of any funeral procession under escort as provided in this section.

§ 46.2-1040. Hazard lights.

Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers, when temporarily stopped on the traveled or paved portion of the highway so as to create a traffic hazard, shall flash all four turn signals simultaneously to signal approaching motorists of the existing hazard whenever such vehicle is equipped with a device which will cause the four turn signals to flash simultaneously. All four turn signals may be flashed simultaneously on a vehicle slowed or stopped at the scene of a traffic hazard, when traveling as part of a funeral procession, or when traveling at a speed of thirty miles per hour or less, but in no other event shall. Except for vehicles traveling as part of a funeral procession, all four turn signals shall not be flashed simultaneously while the vehicle is traveling faster than thirty miles per hour.

School buses shall flash all four turn signals when approaching and stopping at railroad grade crossings.