Seth Azria Logo

NY Traffic Ticket Defense Articles

Legal insights, guides, and tips for handling traffic tickets in New York.

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)
Received a Stop Sign Ticket in New York?

Don't let a 3-point stop sign ticket impact your insurance premiums or driving record. Contact Azria Law Office today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation
Made the whole process easy

Seth was great. I had various infractions that required appearance. Payment and process were clearly spelled out and required little attention on my part. He was quick with correspondence and got me the best deals with lowest fines. Will absolutely use him again if ever in need of an attorney.

Ashley posted to Avvo
Google Review

Seth is amazing, Azria & Bruffett took a bad situations and made it go away. I highly recommend this Law firm to anyone with a ticket.

My experience with Seth Azria

I had multiple traffic tickets that included two misdemeanors, speeding, seat belt, expired inspection you name it I had it. Seth was very proficient, effective beyond my expectations, always returned my calls and kept me notified. I know almost nothing related to the law and he was was capable of explaining things in "normal English." I highly recommend him to anyone. On a 5 star scoring system, I rate him as a 10. Thank you Seth.

A Traffic Ticket Client posted to Avvo
Google+ Review

Azria & Bruffett is an excellent law firm to deal with! Once you engage their services, they are excellent to take care of any traffic ticket. The settlements of the tickets are very favorable to the client. They are also VERY timely. out of the 4 tickets my son had over a period of a year, 2 of them were settled within 2 days of submitting them to Mr. Azria.