Bill > HB77

This bill revises the responsibilities of drivers when encountering a funeral procession on Georgia's roads, particularly on two-lane highways. It clarifies that a funeral procession is defined as a group of vehicles with illuminated headlights, where the lead vehicle displays a funeral home's insignia or the procession is led by a law enforcement vehicle. The bill maintains that funeral processions have the right of way at intersections, but drivers in a procession must still yield to authorized emergency vehicles or law enforcement vehicles with audible and visual signals, and when directed by a traffic officer. It also specifies that funeral processions led by law enforcement vehicles have the right of way on any highway. A significant change is that drivers not participating in a funeral procession on a two-lane highway, when the procession is led by law enforcement and the lead and rear vehicles have flashing hazard lights, must yield the right of way by pulling over to the right side of the road and stopping until the procession passes, unless doing so would be unsafe or violate other laws, particularly for commercial vehicle operators. The bill also prohibits drivers from joining a procession solely to gain the right of way or attempting to pass vehicles in a procession on a two-lane highway. Violations of these provisions can result in a fine of up to $100, and law enforcement officers escorting processions are granted the same immunities as they have in other official duties.

Justice, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69409