Up & Coming Weekly

October 03, 2017

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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OCTOBER 4 - 10, 2017 UCW 21 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM LEGALLY SPEAKING Losing a loved one who transitions to our Lord is difficult. As my pas- tor told me during the death of my mother, grieving requires hard but necessary work. A process and part of grieving is going with family and friends to the gravesite to inter and say goodbye to the earthly body. That process certainly does not need to be interrupted by a rude and reckless driver, either ignoring the laws of this state or not pay- ing attention. So, what does North Carolina law require when a motor- ist either comes upon a funeral procession from behind or from the opposite direction? Our law is contained in N.C.G.S § 20-157.1. e law requires each car in the procession to have both its head- lights on and hazards flashing. e cars shall drive on the right side of the roadway and may proceed through stop signs and stop lights as long as the car is in the procession line. e cars not in the procession shall not join the procession for purposes of securing the right of way. All opera- tors shall use reasonable care and all must yield to emergency vehicles and law enforcement. Surprisingly, operators of the vehicles driving in the opposite direction do not have to pull over, although they may. Operators driving in the same direction may pass when there are two or more lanes. ey may not drive between vehicles in a procession unless directed by law enforcement and they may not enter an intersection knowing a funeral procession is proceeding, but again, they are permitted to pass the proces- sion in a second lane. Finally, it is not negligence per se when causing a wreck while violating this law. is means an injured party must prove the negligence beyond violating this law to recover. Now the safe practice and certainly the most courteous practice is to pull over and not pass. Most drivers do this, but as my father once told me, there is no law against being stupid and rude. I can remember when my father's best friend and a close mentor to me, Colonel Karl Wombrod, died. e Colonel played football for Tennessee and was badly wounded at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He was also on the team that surveyed the 38th parallel in Korea. He was/is an incredible man. After delivering his eulogy during his funeral in Southern Pines, I was with the family as we drove to the Veter- ans Cemetery in Fayetteville. It was spring of that year, and farm- ers were busy plowing and prepar- ing to plant. Despite them being on large machines and very busy, I was overwhelmed and touched with emotion to see each farmer take the time to come down from their equip- ment and stop what they were doing to remove their hats and pay their respects. Not only do they feed us, they teach us. It costs us nothing but a few min- utes of our day to be courteous and respectful. Unfortunately, no law can make us do so. Like so much in life, it's our choice. The Law and Respect During Funeral Processions by REP. BILLY RICHARDSON STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILLY RICHARDSON, D- Cumberland. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. (910) 484-6200. It costs us nothing but a few minutes of our day to be courteous and respectful. Chris SABAT Steve BUTLER Eric VALE Nakia BURRISE Linda YOUNG Vic MIGNOGNA Roger MCKENZIE Paul KUPPERBERG www.fayettevillecomiccon.com/menu for the full guest list! HUGE SELECTION of Comic Books, Toys, Geek Gifts! Speed Dating • Gaming Alley • Aerialists • Panels • Tattoo Alley • Show Cars • Prizes • Author Alley • Free Comics •Cosplay mchaud1@gmail.com jack o' Halloran NON FROM SUPERMAN VOICE ACTORS COMIC BOOK LEGENDS POWER RANGERS FLASH GORDON sam jones C r ow n E x p o C e n t e r Oct. 21 & 22 "If it's GEEK, We got it" MEET OUR SPECIAL GUESTS: lou ferrigno THE HULK

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