How many times a day do you come upon a stop sign? Be it in a single lane of traffic or multiple lanes, in a residential area, or near a school; stop signs are everywhere in our community and often times are ignored or not adhered to properly by drivers. CVC 22450 defines the requirement for stop signs in California. The law is fairly simple; if there is a stop sign posted with a limit line, stop at the limit line. If there is no limit line, but there is a crosswalk, stop at the line prior to entering the crosswalk. If there are no lines in the street, stop even with the stop sign before entering the intersection or making a turn. One of the most common defenses after being cited for running a stop sign is that the driver actually did stop. The first questions to ask yourself are; "Where did I stop?" and "Did I come to a complete stop?" Our local court has made it clear; stop at the limit line, stop sign or crosswalk, not a car length back, not over the line...at the line.
Other common violations include failing to stop when turning, or rolling the stop, and following the car in front of you through a stop sign when in traffic. Each vehicle is required to come to a full and complete stop. Don't sneak through on a turn or next to the car in the other lane. And a complete stop is not a "California roll". A complete stop is a full and complete "cessation" of movement. So, please adhere to stop signs and recognize that they are in place for your safety and the safety of all other persons on the road.