I just got a ticket for "not stopping good enough" at a stop sign. Can I fight this in court?

Question

I was in a residential area and I stopped at a stop sign. I then proceeded to turn right. The cop came up behind me and I pulled over. I asked him what I did and he said "I didn't stop good enough". Pretty much I didn't stay stopped long enough according to his standards. In the law, it doesn't say how long I have to COUNT after I stop. Is this legal? Can I fight this in court?

I know it's ethical to count to 3 but it's not in the law. I just have to come to a complete stop, which I did. And no, I don't know how to prove that I did come to a full stop.

Answer 1

In CA....

Its "...complete and perceptible stop."

Never once have I heard the traffic commissioner say anything about a count of 3. HAHAHAHAHA

Answer 2

It's called a rolling stop. You tecnically have to stop for 3 seconds at a stop sign before proceeding. If you didn't YOU are wrong. This is common knowledge... if you missed that in Drivers Ed, then I hope you didn't miss other driving rules.

You can plead not guilty. It's a minor traffic ticket- you don't need a lawyer. They may reduce the ticket to "no seatbelt." But either way, it's not a big deal...

Count 1 one thousand-2 one thousand -3 one thousand next time.

Answer 3

According to them it is "the law"....if you dont stop for a full count of 3 then it is not considered a complete stop.......therefore, you didn't stop for the stop sign.

You could try and fight in court, but I am going to pretty much guarantee that you aren't gonna win and PLUS you will have to pay court costs.

My suggestion.......pay the ticket and make sure to come to a complete stop next time.

I speak from experience :-)

Answer 4

I'm with Eric on this one. Counting aside, you must stop long enough for anyone who sees it to say it was a clear and complete stop. You may very well have stopped all the way, and you know it because you felt it, but if you accelerated again too quickly, it would have appeared to the cop that your wheels did not stop all the way.

It's happened to me before, but the cop just gave me a warning.

Answer 5

Yes you can fight it in court.

You didn't ask if you could win and I won't bother to repeat what anyone else said. Regardless you can contest any citation you receive and make them prove that you did what they claim you did that was a criminal act. The officer will come to the court date submit his log of the incident and you will tell your side of what happened. The judge will determine who he believes is more credible. As an alternative you can plead guilty and ask for a reduced violation or offer to go to traffic school and have the citation lifted pending your successful completion.

Answer 6

A full and complete stop required all 4 tires to be at a stop. Sometimes we think we are stopped but actually roll just a bit.

Answer 7

if the wheels on the car were still turning before you went through the stop sign then you deserve the ticket. stop means completely. the car should not be moving at all!!!

Answer 8

If you rolled the stop sign then you get the ticket, bummer, sorry. It can be really easy to think you fully stopped when you didn't unfortunately.

Answer 9

you should count to 3 once you have stopped

Answer 10

not really, the cops word will be more accepted by the judge..and unless you have absolute proof you stopped, like a video or somthing, you don't have a leg to stand on...and the rest of you folks, if we elect democrats to the white house and congress, they will start putting cameras at stop signs, speed cameras on streets and we will have no choice in the matter,...we will ALL be counting, "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand"....