Understanding Stop Sign and Yield Sign Tickets

Disobeying stop sign or yield sign tickets are very common citations issued in Illinois. They are petty traffic citations, meaning they don’t carry any jail time or criminal consequences. But, are moving violations- so drivers need to be careful when handling these citations as they do cause points on your drivers license. The relevant Illinois law is 625 ILCS 5/11-1204.

What does the Law Say?

Illinois law regarding these tickets states that every driver that is approaching a stop sign, must stop at a clearly, marked stop line which is usually a white line that is painted in the pavement. And, if there is no marked stop line, then every driver must stop before entering the crosswalk where pedestrians cross. If there is no clear marked stop line or if there is no crosswalk, then drivers still need to stop at the nearest point before entering the intersection where drivers can safely see any oncoming traffic. Failure to follow any of these requierd actions can lead you to being ticketed for failure to obey stop sign

As far as yield signs, drivers who are approaching a yield sign need to yield before entering the intersection. obey the yield sign just like stop signs. Drivers approaching a yield sign need to stop before entering the crosswalk, or at a clearly marked stop line if there is no crosswalk or if neither present- then drivers need to stop at the closest point to the intersection where oncoming traffic can be seen.

Defenses?

Believe it or not, just because you are ticketed doesn’t mean you are guilty. Some facts justify for a valid defense and drivers can actually prevail in trial and have this citation dismissed. Here are some defenses you may have to a Disobeying a stop sign or a yield sign ticket:

• Stop line wasn’t clear and visible;
• Driver did complete a full stop or did yield;
• Officer or traffic control signal directed you to not stop;
• The stop or yield was damaged or obstructed and was not visible

This Ticket is Considered a Moving Violation

This particular citation is considered a moving violation and can have point assessed against your driver’s license. If you are a Commercial Drivers License holder, this citation can affect your employment. It is smart to contact a traffic attorney, and you can find a experience, skilled one at our firm to assist you with this citation. Contact us if you have been cited with this citation, and we will look to keep this ticket off your driving record.