Month: November 2016

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How To Drive In (Or Not In) A Funeral Procession

Q: Recently I was driving and came across a funeral procession. There was no police escort, but my father taught me to pull over to the side of the road when I was young. Is there a law requiring this? Several people on the road in front of me did not pull off.

A: What your father taught you may have been motivated more by respect for those in mourning than by the letter of the law. Or it may have been based on the law of another state. Laws about funeral processions vary from state to state. In Washington the law doesn’t require drivers to pull over to the side of the road for funeral processions, but there are a few rules on the topic. Continue reading “How To Drive In (Or Not In) A Funeral Procession”

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Disabled Parking And The Law

Q: What is the law concerned handicapped parking spaces? Must a handicapped person always be present to justify their use? Can abuses be reported, and to whom? Is there a fine that can be imposed to those who misuse a permit?

A: Working backwards through the questions; yes, yes (the police), yes, and you’ll find the laws in chapter 46.19 of the RCW. That’s the super-short summary; now let’s dig in. To start with, I know that we usually use the term “handicapped parking”, but the Revised Code of Washington titled the chapter “Special Parking Privileges for Persons With Disabilities”, and throughout the chapter refers to “special parking privileges” so I’ll be using that term here. I just wanted to point that out so we all know we’re talking about the same thing. Continue reading “Disabled Parking And The Law”

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Emergency Vehicles: When To Yield

Q: This question is referring to roads where there are two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane. When there is an emergency vehicle with it’s lights and siren on traveling in the opposite direction, do you have to pull over to the shoulder and stop?

A: I’m inclined to err on a cautious reading of the law with this question, recognizing that there might be room for other interpretations. Here’s what the law says, as found in RCW 46.61.210: “Upon the immediate approach of an authorized vehicle making use of audible and visual signals . . . the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway . . . and shall stop . . .” Continue reading “Emergency Vehicles: When To Yield”

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Traffic Signals and Traffic Jams

Q: Have the traffic lights in Bellingham been professionally set up, that is adjusted to allow for the best flow of traffic? I do not understand how the city doesn’t have the ability to have the lights synchronized on some of our busiest roads.

A: This question is adapted from a stack of questions about signal timing in Bellingham. The top three locations where drivers get frustrated by traffic lights are, in order, Sunset Drive, Guide Meridian and Lakeway Drive. Of those three, Sunset Drive has a dominating lead in the complaint column. Continue reading “Traffic Signals and Traffic Jams”