# Laws on Transporting a Corpse **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965 "2020-05-17T05:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/21 "2020-05-18T05:02:25Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I know a cop who pulled over an obvious funeral home vehicle (yanno, black or silver with that fancy ‘S’ where the rear window would be) for speeding one hot, summer day. He walks up to the car & gets into the usual variant of, “What’s your story, bub?” > > The driver states the air conditioning is broken; he hoists a thumb over his shoulder, & states, “…& he won’t keep.” > > Cop - “Have a nice day, drive carefully.” Warning: This is not the typical outcome of telling a police officer at a traffic stop that you have a dead body in the back of your car. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/22 "2020-05-18T07:25:37Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > You’d still think someone who claims to be a lawyer would have better means and ability to look up laws than to ask a messageboard several times each week. Like [Findlaw](https://www.findlaw.com/), maybe? ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/23 "2020-05-18T15:33:52Z")
I did this with my dad in Alberta 11 years ago. I needed to save money and asked the funeral home where he was being stored in the fridge if it was legal. They said as long as I have the death certificate if I got pulled over and questioned there shouldn’t be any problem. He was placed in a cheap plywood box (stapled together), then put into the back of my truck. 2 hours later he was unloaded at a different location for cremation. That’s not an actual test of the law to prove anything, but I’d think a business telling their clientele to do something illegal which is easily tracible and assisted by them would be unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/24 "2020-05-18T19:18:25Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Telperion](#): > > You’d still think someone who claims to be a lawyer would have better means and ability to look up laws than to ask a messageboard several times each week. I’m kinda on the fence about whether this should be a note or a warning, so I’ll give you the benefit of a doubt and make it a note. This is basically a personal attack on the OP by denigrating / questioning his professional abilities. Do not do this again outside of the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/25 "2020-05-18T21:27:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It depends on what states you’re traveling through. > > In some states (like here in New York) it’s illegal for a private citizen to transport a corpse. You have to have a special permit which is issued to people like funeral directors, coroners, medical transport personnel, etc. I’m not sure this is correct. I myself once drove the hearse containing the body of a family member from the funeral home to the cemetery. (The hearse belonged to the funeral home.) This was in NY, and no one made any issues about it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/26 "2020-05-19T01:20:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Warning: This is not the typical outcome of telling a police officer at a traffic stop that you have a dead body in the back of your car. Here’s how you get out of that one… [spoiler]A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange: Officer: May I see your driver’s license? Driver: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI. Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle? Driver: It’s not my car. I stole it. Officer: The car is stolen? Driver: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner’s card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there. Officer: There’s a gun in the glove box? Driver: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk. Officer: There’s a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!? Driver: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation: Captain: Sir, can I see your license? Driver: Sure. Here it is. It was valid. Captain: Who’s car is this? Driver: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the owner’ card. The driver owned the car. Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there’s a gun in it? Driver: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box. Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there’s a body in it. Driver: No problem. Trunk is opened; no body. Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glovebox, and that there was a dead body in the trunk. Driver: Yeah, I’ll bet the lying dirtbag told you I was speeding, too![/spoiler] > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I’m not sure this is correct. > > I myself once drove the hearse containing the body of a family member from the funeral home to the cemetery. (The hearse belonged to the funeral home.) This was in NY, and no one made any issues about it. I got to front (passenger) seat for Auntie’s funeral; driver let me decide whether we should go for the stale green & screw up cross traffic or be nice & stop. How the 'ell did they let you drive their hearse, or did you work for them? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/27 "2020-05-19T01:46:28Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Here’s how you get out of that one… > > [spoiler]A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange: Would this be the policeman that didn’t use a machine to register your speed and didn’t use a bodycam when he stepped up to your window? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/28 "2020-05-19T03:45:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Would this be the policeman that didn’t use a machine to register your speed and didn’t use a bodycam when he stepped up to your window? Ooh, excellent point. Spiderman, I demand you retract that joke forthwith! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/29 "2020-05-19T04:19:01Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Ooh, excellent point. Spiderman, I demand you retract that joke forthwith! Next up: I explain why the chicken couldn’t have crossed that road in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/30 "2020-05-19T12:25:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Next up: I explain why the chicken couldn’t have crossed that road in the first place. Why must you ruin everything? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/31 "2020-05-19T12:49:25Z")
When Andy Griffith died they also announced he was already buried. He was buried \< 5 hours after he died. Don’t think they ever said why they did it that way. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/32 "2020-05-19T13:01:17Z")
Unfortunately corpses don’t count as passengers for traveling in the HOV lanes. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/33 "2020-05-19T13:27:07Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Unfortunately corpses don’t count as passengers for traveling in the HOV lanes. Do you speak from experience? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/34 "2020-05-19T13:32:35Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I got to front (passenger) seat for Auntie’s funeral; driver let me decide whether we should go for the stale green & screw up cross traffic or be nice & stop. > How the 'ell did they let you drive their hearse, or did you work for them? I did not work for them. As I said it was a relative, specifically a nephew who died of SIDS. My sister (or possibly BIL) asked me if I could drive it. My impression at the time was that they had leeway to ask whoever they wanted. [Only complication was that - being unfamiliar with the cemetery - I missed the turn into the entrance, and had to turn around and go back a block, followed by the rest of the funeral procession.] ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/35 "2020-05-19T16:21:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Do you speak from experience? Maybe one day I’ll be the passenger. There have been several stories about[hearse drivers getting ticketed in the HOV lane](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/us/hearse-hov-lane-las-vegas-trnd/index.html). So many that it sounds a bit like the old fake news story involving a Superman costume that ends with “How am I going to explain this to my husband?”. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/36 "2020-05-19T16:57:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Would this be the policeman that didn’t use a machine to register your speed and didn’t use a bodycam when he stepped up to your window? > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Ooh, excellent point. Spiderman, I demand you retract that joke forthwith! The dead body in the back of my car is going to be… **Czarcasm** ’s. :eek: - Actually, our PD use Vascar, which is a glorified stopwatch, so very easy to fake, & they don’t yet have bodycams. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/37 "2020-05-19T18:00:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Unfortunately corpses don’t count as passengers for traveling in the HOV lanes. They do if you sit them up in the passenger seat and put a hat on them. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965/38 "2020-05-19T18:05:18Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They do if you sit them up in the passenger seat and put a hat on them. Sounds like an Eminem/Dr Dre song. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-on-transporting-a-corpse/853965.md?page=1)