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.

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
Seth Azria helped me and he can help you!

Seth provided me with everything necessary to reduce my ticket and worked with me through every little detail. He kept me up to date on each exchange that happened between the court and my case. He reduced it to it's lowest amount and charged me very little for doing so and appearing in court on my behalf. I would highly recommend him to anyone in the area. Thanks again Seth.

Philip posted to Avvo
Google Review

Seth and team are professionals. Strong communication and integrity. Genuinely helpful and honest lawyers, I would highly recommend this law firm to anyone.

Google Review

Unfortunately I'm a repeat customer.... Fantastic, great results for me.... I've dealt with other lawyers and it's just night and day.... Hopefully I'll never need them again but if I do I'll definitely call

W Legend
Google Review

Mr Seth is a thorough professional. He will walk you through the process and handle everything start to finish with little to no effort at your end. He is transparent upfront on the likely outcome of your case and delivers exactly that.. and the best part is that he answers all texts or emails :however insignificant it is.. highly recommend !