Confusion about traffic statutes can lead to people receiving costly citations. Some people intentionally break traffic laws, but others may not fully understand what the law requires. Drivers may believe inaccurate information about the law or may improperly apply traffic rules in certain scenarios.
Stop sign and red light violations are among the most common traffic infractions regularly cited in North Carolina. Many of these citations involve a rolling stop, where drivers slow down instead of completely stopping their vehicles. Some people may believe that they followed the law and that police officers issued them an unnecessary ticket.
Do drivers have the option of performing a rolling stop if they approach an intersection when there are no other vehicles present nearby?
Complete stops are mandatory
North Carolina traffic statutes regarding red lights and stop signs are relatively clear. Drivers must come to a complete stop when they approach a stop sign or a red light, and they may need to make a judgment call about how they respond to a yellow light as they approach an intersection.
Even when drivers do not notice another vehicle approaching, they must still come to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection, possibly after the signal changes. Drivers watching for other vehicles might overlook motorcycles and cyclists, as well as nearby pedestrians. Coming to a complete stop is the only way to properly monitor the intersection and comply with state statutes.
Drivers who have received citations may want to fight their tickets to protect their license and avoid the insurance costs and other complications of paying a ticket. Defending against stop sign and red light violations often requires the support of a traffic ticket defense attorney who understands the law and the court system, and that’s okay.