NRS 484B.703: Driving Through Processions Including Funerals

Sometimes, processions can be delightful experiences for people like when your favorite sports team wins a big game or if we are celebrating a fun holiday such as our nation’s birthday. Other times though, a procession can be a downer like when it is for a funeral. In that case, a street may be lined with a long stream of cars with police officers directing traffic. In any of these scenarios, NRS 484B.703 is the law that makes it unlawful to drive through one of these said processions. The statute reads as follows:

“The operator of a motor vehicle shall not drive between the vehicles, persons or animals comprising a funeral or other authorized procession when those vehicles are properly identified by pennants or other authorized insignia and while the funeral or procession is in motion, except when otherwise directed by a police officer or by the driver of a vehicle escorting the funeral procession.”

There really is not much ambiguity on this detail of NRS 484B.703. Basically, if there is a funeral, parade, or other type of procession, you cannot drive in the middle of it. Otherwise, you will most likely be given a traffic ticket in violation of this statute.

It is interesting that the statute references ‘animals’. One might wonder when animals would be in a busy Las Vegas street but it can happen. Certainly, Helldorado days ring a bell or an annual procession for the rodeo which takes over the Las Vegas Strip each December.

Although not necessarily a procession, the National Finals Rodeo takes over Las Vegas each December and poses various traffic issues. For around the first ten days of the month of December, cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country arrive in the city to partake in a variety of western events.

It’s a great boon to the local economy as the typical tourist season dries up a bit between Thanksgiving and Christmas when people are traveling to see family and saving up for Christmas gifts. The actual rodeo is held nightly at the Thomas & Mack center which is located on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Although the campus itself sits on Maryland Parkway, the venue is further west towards Paradise Road.

Even the most novice of rodeo fans knows that animals are involved in the event. This mainly includes horses, bulls and steers. Well, these animals need to thrive and survive somewhere during the time of the rodeo so they are housed in a grassy area near the intersection of Paradise Road and Harmon.  This area is literally on the UNLV campus. So between the “stockyards” and the actual entrances and exits to the venue there is a lot going on.

The rodeo sells out for all ten nights and there is actually a backlog for season tickets. Because of the popularity, there are nearly 20,000 attendees convening at the arena each night and that, of course, does not include employees and other hang-arounds that just want to be part of the action.

Much like other sporting events, traffic getting in and out can be brutal. Therefore, law enforcement will usually be in the area directing traffic.  This usually consists of motorcycle traffic officers and those standing directing traffic using hand gestures. Cones and other special signage may also be present.  It’s very important to follow the directives in these types of situations or you will most likely be cited with a ticket and will then want to make sure to contact Ticket Busters for help!

The scenario described above would be the same scenario for attending a Las Vegas Raiders game at Allegiant stadium or any other large event. Being an economy based on tourism, Las Vegas hosts all types of these events which are often held near the Strip which is already a tight, high-density traffic spot let alone when a special event is going on.

One of those special events that occur quite often from October to the spring is the Vegas Golden Knight games held at T-Mobile Arena. They have been a hot ticket since inception and continue to be which means that the condensed area between Park MGM and New York New York resorts is even worse on game night.  We know that city officials have spent lots of time working on the ingress and egress for game nights but there really is no way to avoid massive congestion. If going to a game, be patient and follow the rules.

It’s always good to follow the instructions from signage, cones, and of course traffic cops in the area. If you violate those you will most likely be issued a ticket.  If that happens, call Ticket Busters right away for assistance. We make something difficult very easy to deal with.

In most cases, a parade will be well marked so there would be no misunderstanding for a driver to intercede. Anytime a float, signage or a horse pulling a wagon along with other anomalies it would be a clue to not enter.  Typically a funeral procession will also be obvious as the drivers of the vehicles will have their headlights on, even on a blistering summer Nevada day. If you observe a funeral procession be sure to pay respect and refrain from driving between the vehicles until the last car has passed by.

Common parades in Las Vegas will occasionally pertain to sports teams. Las Vegas is a sports city and in September of 2022, the city celebrated the Las Vegas Aces championship for women’s basketball. In that case, Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Bellagio was shut down to all traffic for most of the evening on that Tuesday night. Being that the road was closed made it easy for other drivers to abide by the law.  So anyone getting a ticket for violation of NRS 484B.703 had to try pretty hard to get one.

Another major parade that occurred in Las Vegas was the 1990 college basketball championship for UNLV. That parade is still remembered by many locals as the collegiate team was one of the best in the nation and the only real sports team in town at that time. That parade was in downtown Las Vegas and took place on Fremont Street. At that time, the street was open for driving and just a few years later was closed off for good allowing for the Fremont Street Experience.

Aside from that historical event, Las Vegas hosts a variety of other parades that drivers should be aware of. Many deals with holidays such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in March and the Martin Luther King parade in January.

The Las Vegas Pride parade has also been gaining in popularity and attendance. These types of events can occur throughout the city with certain areas like downtown Summerlin, Water Street in Henderson and North Las Vegas hosting the most (aside from the typical ones on Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard).

Many of these same types of parades are held in Reno, NV with Virginia Street being a popular thoroughfare to use. Hot August Nights is one of the biggest events in Reno and consists of a long procession of antique cars. Fourth of July parades are also prevalent throughout the state and can be found in just about any small town in Nevada including Elko, Ely, Pahrump and Mesquite.

The aforementioned Helldorado Days first took place in 1935 and have since been renamed to Las Vegas Days Parade. It takes place in the middle part of May and often includes floats, cowboys, and cowgirls riding horseback, nonprofit clubs, and of course high school marching bands. It takes place in downtown LV and is a celebration of the city’s western roots.

Another type of procession is when a world leader or high-profile politician is in town. When this occurs, streets are often blocked off by police and a motorcade of vehicles accompanies the person of power. This can be very frustrating for other drivers especially when the politician is disturbing rush hour traffic. In any of these situations, be sure to remain respectful to the procession and not interfere; otherwise, law enforcement (including LVMPD or Nevada Highway Patrol) can issue a citation for violating NRS484B.703.

If this unforeseen event occurs and you find yourself with a citation we recommend you seek out legal help. Ticket Busters can help you as we have a large staff of legal professionals that are versed in all types of criminal charges including traffic tickets.

There is only one other detail to NRS 484B.703 and it applies to emergency vehicles:

If there is an emergency vehicle, this statute of not driving through a procession does not apply to them. It makes perfect sense as they cannot wait for a parade to end if there is an emergency situation they need to get to.

In conclusion, as the statute implies, there should be no doubt as to whether or not the parade or procession is sanctioned. The way to realize this should be the presence of law enforcement officers who would be present at the scene. The parade or official event should also be well-marked with flags or other noticeable insignia.

Ticket Busters is a staple in the Las Vegas community and can assist you with any criminal need, especially those pertaining to traffic tickets while operating a vehicle. Our skilled attorneys will see to it that your traffic citation gets addressed with the greatest amount of attention. Call Ticket Busters today.

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