Stop Sign and Red Light Violations
Stop Sign
CVC § 22450 prohibits you from failing to come to a complete stop at a limit line, crosswalk, entrance to an intersection, or railroad grade crossing if there was not marked limit line or crosswalk.
Defenses
There are a few defenses to this offense. Many times the officer will be sitting or viewing you from an area that would prohibit them from making an accurate determination about whether you broke the law. In other cases, conditions around the specific stop sign and/or area may have blocked the officer’s view or your view of the stop sign until it was too late.
Red Lights
CVC §§21451, 21452, and 21453 outline the way drivers are required to conduct themselves at green, yellow, and red lights, respectively. The law prohibiting failing to stop at a stop sign and red light are very similar.
Defenses
The same defenses that apply to stop signs apply, for the most part, equally to stop lights. However, there is one difference. It is not a violation of the law to enter an intersection when the light is still yellow. This is a defense to a violation for failing to stop at a red light and can get your ticket dismissed if you know how to present the defense properly.
Automated Red Light Enforcement Systems
Automated enforcement systems are in use in California for the enforcement of red light violations. The use of these systems raises interesting, technical, and nuanced questions for Courts. As such, and depending on the facts of a given case, there may be avenues available to avoid these citations. If you have been mailed a citation for violating a red light it is important to contact a competent lawyer to evaluate the specifics of your case and determine if any of those avenues may be available to you.
Punishment
Failing to stop at a stop sign is an infraction and the first offense is punishable by up to a one hundred dollar fine. However, the real cost come by the increase in your insurance rates with a conviction. That increase can cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
You will need a qualified lawyer to evaluate the merits of your case and determine your best course of action. It’s not worth the risk of paying hundreds of more dollars for insurance. If you have been cited for failing to stop at a stop sign or red light, contact me. I will gladly give you a free evaluation of your case. I provide quality legal services at an affordable price.