Duties at Stop Sign

Maybe you were distracted when you got to the intersection. So you drove through the stop sign without stopping, and the next thing you knew, you could see police lights in your rearview mirror.

A moving violation ticket – or two or three — can lead to escalating difficulties like points on your driving record, costly fines, rising insurance premiums and even suspension of your driver’s license. A defense attorney can help you minimize or avoid these problems.

What You Need To Know About Failing To Stop For A Stop Sign

In Pennsylvania when you come to a stop sign, unless a police officer or someone else appropriately attired waves you through you need to come to a complete stop at the stop line.

• If the intersection does not have a stop line, come to a complete stop before the crosswalk.
• If there is no stop line or crosswalk, come to a complete stop at the point nearest the intersecting road where you have a clear view of any approaching traffic.
• After you stop, if you don’t have a clear view of approaching traffic you should yield the right of way to any pedestrians and then slowly pull forward until you do have a clear view of approaching traffic.

In other words, you shouldn’t cross the intersection until it is safe to do so.

In a 3 or 4-way intersection controlled by stop signs, you have the right of way and can go first if you were the first car to get there. If you aren’t sure which car got their first because you both got there at about the same time, then the car on the right should go first.

Penalties

If you are convicted for failing to stop at a stop sign, you will get three points on your driving record.

What To Do If The Police Pull You Over

• Turn the ignition off but don’t get out of the car.
• Don’t argue with the police officer or get angry.
• Be polite.

How A PA Defense Attorney Will Help

When you are up against a traffic violation, you need an attorney who will stand by you every step of the way, work hard to discredit any evidence – and work with you to determine your best course of action.

Pennsylvania Traffic Violation Law

Traffic violation is described and defined under The Pennsylvania Code under Title 75. Read the code here.