Cherokee County to require police escorts of funeral processions

Citing recent traffic incidents involving funeral escorts and processions, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has set a public hearing for its Tuesday, Jan. 21 meeting on a proposed ordinance requiring police to lead such processions.

“No private vehicles that are not law enforcement vehicles shall be authorized to lead a funeral procession or control or alter traffic for a funeral procession,” the ordinance says. Before the procession, a funeral home would be required to notify the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office so the sheriff could make arrangements for it.

No procession could exceed 25 vehicles without prior authorization, according to the ordinance. The procession would have right-of-way at street intersections over other vehicles except fire apparatus, ambulances and police vehicles, provided each vehicle in the procession display a flag or magnet with the word “funeral” or have their flashers activated.