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Stop Signs: What, Where and Who

by Seth Azria on 1/01/2024
NY Traffic Laws 3 min read

Stop Signs in New York: What, Where, and Who

By Seth M. Azria, Esq.

What: Penalties for Running a Stop Sign

Failing to stop for a stop sign violates New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1172(a). If convicted or if you plead guilty, a driver faces:

  • Base Fine: Maximum statutory fine of $150 for a first offense.
  • Mandatory Surcharge: Mandatory state surcharge of $93 ($88 in city courts).
  • DMV Points: 3 points assessed to your New York driving record.

Where: Where Must You Stop?

Under NY VTL 1172, a driver approaching a stop sign must come to a complete stop:

  1. At the Stop Line: At a clearly marked stop line painted on the roadway.
  2. At the Crosswalk: If no stop line is present, before entering the marked crosswalk.
  3. At the Intersection: If there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic, without entering the intersection.

Who: Legal Requirements & Rare Exemptions

All drivers are legally required to stop at stop signs. A rare exception applies to drivers who act involuntarily due to sudden medical emergencies, such as unforeseen seizures or blackouts, rendering them unconscious at the time the vehicle crossed the stop sign.

Legal Precedent: People v. Soe, 9 Misc. 3d 1069 (J. Ct. 2005)
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I was entirely satisfied with the representation I received from Azria and Bruffett. In May 2018, I received two tickets for failing to stop adequately at a stop sign (the officer said it was a "rolling stop") and failure to signal more than 100 ft. before a turn. I had never had a moving violation in 20+ years of driving, and I was now suddenly facing 5 points and the possibility of a hefty fine! Azria and Bruffett were able to get the charges reduced to a non-moving violation with no points and a minimal fine. Based on my experience, I would recommend them to someone who is concerned about avoiding points and black marks on their driving record.

Christopher Noble posted to Google+
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As a a 60 year old physician I am semi-retired and my wife and I travel the country to do work in my specialty at places that are shorthanded. Since I only work about 1/3 of the year we have time to drive to these places. Recently I was stopped on a highway in NY. I haven't had a speeding ticket since I was in my twenties. The officer said I was doing 81 in a 65 MPH zone (my reading 76 while trying to pass a slow moving vehicle with a line of cars behind me trying to get by me as well). I read the reviews and chose Attorney Azria.

The office staff was pleasant and efficient, and put me right through to Attorney Azria. He explained the process with perfect clarity and went to work. Although he explained the process could take 4-6 weeks he resolved the issue in 10 days, reducing the violation to a non-moving violation with a small fee and no points. His price was more than fair.

I've been lucky enough as a physician to have never been sued but doctors by nature do not have an affinity for lawyers. However, if you find yourself in need of one, it is hard to imagine someone better at their job than Attorney Azria. Thank you sir. If I could give you 6 stars out of 5 I would.

Norman D. Miller, MD posted to Yelp

Norm M.
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Handled my speeding ticket very quickly.

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Seth Azria and his team are the absolute BEST in the game. During the initial consultation Mr. Azria was very thorough in explaining the whole process and possible outcomes. The fees were VERY reasonable. The level of responsiveness was superb. Kudos to Monica as well!!!! - I appreciate all of your assistance. It’s never fun to get a ticket out of state. But thanks to this team, they turned a stressful incident into a quick, easy and painless situation. I would HIGHLY recommend this firm to anyone who is looking for an attorney in the area.

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