Maryland Stop Sign Tickets (TA Section 21‑707)
A stop‑sign citation can seem minor until the points and insurance impact hit. Maryland law requires a full stop at a marked line, before entering a crosswalk, or before entering the intersection if no line or crosswalk is present. The State often relies on a brief observation to support a “rolling stop”—and those observations can be successfully challenged.
The statute: Transportation Article Section 21‑707
TA Section 21‑707 requires drivers to stop at:
- A clearly marked stop line; or
- Before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or
- Before entering the intersection if there is no stop line or crosswalk.
After stopping, the driver must yield to any vehicle in or approaching the intersection that presents an immediate hazard. Many cases turn on where you stopped in relation to the line or crosswalk, and whether that stop was complete.
What the State must prove
The State typically presents an officer’s observation that your wheels did not cease rotation (a “rolling stop”), or that you stopped after crossing the line or into the crosswalk. Vantage point and distance are central: a fleeting view at an angle can mistake a full stop for a slow roll, especially on slight grades.
Points, fines, and insurance
Stop‑sign citations are moving violations and can carry points administered by the MVA under Maryland’s points framework. Points can raise insurance and, combined with other violations, lead to MVA action. We target dismissals, reductions to no‑point resolutions, or PBJ to keep points off your record.
Defenses that work in practice
- Stop location and worn markings
- In many neighborhoods, stop lines and crosswalk paint are faded or offset. Photos or video often show a complete stop at the nearest safe point before the crosswalk.
- Officer vantage and observation time
- Where was the officer? A quick glance across an intersection may not capture a full stop made just before the line or at the crosswalk.
- Cross‑traffic and hazard analysis
- Yielding to immediate hazards is required; stopping slightly before the line to see around foliage or parked vehicles can be a reasonable, safe response.
- Lighting and grade
- At night or on slopes, wheel movement can be hard to perceive. We use photos, diagrams, and sometimes video to show a complete stop.
What to do next
- Do not pay online; paying accepts any points.
- Request a trial date so we can challenge the observation and stop placement.
- Take daytime photos from your driver’s perspective showing the line, crosswalk, and sightlines.
- If your route requires frequent stops at this sign, bring proof of need for a PBJ back‑up plan.
Court strategy and outcomes
When the State’s vantage or markings are suspect, we try the case with targeted exhibits. Where mitigation is the wiser route, we present driver improvement, clean record, and need‑based proof to secure a no‑point result. Either way, our goal is the same: protect your license and insurance.
For more on avoiding points and why trial settings matter, see Maryland Traffic Lawyers.