In Pennsylvania, you can be issued a traffic ticket for running a red light in two ways: if the police see you run the light and issue you a ticket, or if you are caught by a red light camera and are sent a ticket in the mail. But if you are caught failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, you are almost certain to get pulled over by a police officer and to be issued a traffic ticket.
Traffic tickets, including stop sign tickets, are often issued as a way to generate revenue for the city or town. This is why police officers do not hesitate to write a ticket when they see someone run a stop sign, even if the driver slowed down at the sign, or even if the driver did not hit anyone in the intersection. This is why these kinds of tickets can be so frustrating -- they are easy to get, they come with incredibly steep penalties, and you may not even have done anything really wrong to deserve the ticket.
Pennsylvania law spells out every driver’s duty when approaching a stop sign. Under the Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 75, § 3323, drivers are expected to come to a complete stop at the designated white line; yield right of way to pedestrians; and to not enter the intersection until it is safe to do so. Failing to do any of these things could mean getting a stop sign ticket.
Not only do these tickets come with expensive fines that you are expected to pay, but you will also have points added to driving record if you plead guilty to your stop sign ticket. A stop sign ticket will result in three points being added to your driver’s license, and after six points accumulate on your record, you will face additional penalties. These can include having to take a safe driving exam or even having your license suspended for several weeks.
However, you have the option of pleading ‘not guilty” to your traffic ticket and having your case heard in your local traffic court. This will give you the opportunity to present your side of the story to a judge. The judge will also hear from the police officer who wrote your ticket, and the officer will try to prove that you clearly ran the stop sign. The judge will then decide whether to assign you the full extent of the penalties of your ticket, to reduce your penalties, or even to dismiss your ticket entirely.
Having an experienced Pennsylvania stop sign ticket lawyer on your side is the best way to ensure that the judge will reduce or eliminate your penalties. We will help you find evidence that will work in your favor, even if the police officer is there to testify. We have handled hundreds of cases like yours and are available to help you prepare right away. Give our offices a call today to speak to one of our attorneys.