the escort does a drill that  the back unit stays  till main group passes then hurries to the next intersection.  I have never seen them blare out into the open intersection regardless of the  lamp color.  The route is taken into consideration as well.  Safety for all  is a factor as well.  Please don't hound on it.  I WANT THEM to stay doing this.  It's a great civic duty, paid or not. 

chris- by  chance did you not see cars pulled over or traffic not moving?  early sign of procession nearby. 

I am with Chris about Sailor..  as George Lopez  friend always states in the SHOW .."You Cant Say Nothin"..hehheehe...

ms ATX gurlee....... I still do as you.. pull over and turn down the radio and wait till the procession goes by and its just common courtsey taught to me also by my parents.... and people will follow your lead (sometimes)...because ..they dont know what is going on..so to be on the safe side they will also pull over..

Chris,

Thanks for your condolences.

Yes, they were all buried here in Victoria in the same cemetery.

Sailor - I would hope that most people give the proper respect and courtesy/right-of-way to funeral processions, escorted (as I said, I wasn't aware there were any other kind) or not. I know that I do, and the presence of the police officers always makes me pause to think about the duties they perform day in and day out. They are appreciated! (at least, by me). I know that my parents taught me to always pull over, turn down the radio, and give respect to a funeral procession. I remember them telling me that was the person's "last ride" and one should always be respectful. If a man our car was wearing a hat, it was taken off as a sign of respect. I just always assumed that people did things like that, but I am saddened to think that maybe people don't anymore. C'mon, guys, show a little respect to the deceased and their families, AND to the officers escorting them on their "last ride". It only takes a minute out of your busy day. Wouldn't you want them to do the same for you and your loved ones?

Texas Huckleberry    :)        You're welcome!

Chris,

If you are simply asking if Law Enforcement charges or is Funeral escorts a free serive you should have just asked that, and ask when readers think of Police providing escorts.

But by describing the situation that propted your questions in the way that you did, even with the caveat that you were probably inattentive, and you "Don't want to overstate" the situation, You did it anyway. You sensationalized what is a normal situation and flung wide open the door for all the anti-cop haters to come post their ranting uninformed B.S.

Good going there. You really should work for the Inquirer rather than a traditional Newspaper.

But here is to your questions as best asI can answer them:

FEE OR FREE? : Don't know. I asked my Bro who has done many an escort.  that is a question "above his paygrade" . At the street level, an Officer is assigned the duty, usually from traffic rather than patrol division. how it is arraigned you might want to ask a funeral home, they should know.

RIGHT OR WRONG: Texas Law authorizes the use of Emergency vehicles (police vehicles) as funeral escorts and allows them to close intersections and move through red lights in order to do so.

 CHAPTER 546. OPERATION OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN
OTHER VEHICLES

SUBCHAPTER A. AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES

 § 546.001.  PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT.  In operating an
authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:
(1)  park or stand, irrespective of another provision
of this subtitle;    
(2)  proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;
(3)  exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided
by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the
operator does not endanger life or property;  and
(4)  disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.

§ 546.002.  WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE.  (a)  In this
section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a
funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles
2.12(1)-(4), (8), and (22), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)  Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:                       
(1)  responding to an emergency call;                                        
(2)  pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the
law;                  
(3)  responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;                      
(4)  directing or diverting traffic for public safety
purposes;  or        
(5)  conducting a police escort.

Cops are required to slow up, use their lights and give a few whelps of their siren, and EASE INTO the intersection and stop cross traffic. They DO NOT just pull out in front of you. Only people who are not paying enough attention would miss them and have to suddenly hit their brakes. ::hint, hint::

Chris - Texas Huckleberry (why is it that name just makes me smile?) is right. As long as I can remember, police escorts have been available for funerals in Houston, and I do believe they do this as a public service/free courtesy. I thought it was that way everywhere....you mean it's not??