Discussing Criminal Attorney Services

Handling a Traffic Ticket After You Miss a Stop Sign While Exhausted

4 May 2021

Joshua Alexander

It is always a bad idea to drive while you are exhausted. Not only are you more likely to find yourself in an accident but you are also more likely to make a mistake that will lead to you being pulled over and cited for violating a traffic law. You may drive through a stop sign and find yourself pulled over by a police officer. 

What to Do If You're Cited 

If you see flashing lights, pull over when it is safe to do so in a safe location as soon as possible. If you will need to change lanes, make sure to use your turn signal. You will then want to be polite and comply with the officer's orders. The officer cannot search your vehicle simply for a traffic stop but they will be able to search if they discover anything incriminating that is within plain view. 

Assume that you should remain in your car and only step out if you are instructed to do so by the officer. You can try to refuse to allow the officer to search your car and the officer cannot search your phone without a warrant. In most cases, the officer will write you a ticket and you'll need to contact a traffic ticket attorney.

How to Fight the Ticket

Challenging a ticket is more important now than ever before. The penalties for a ticket are much higher and you are likely to have points added to your license for a ticket. However, the subjective opinion of an officer can be difficult to combat.

If you can obtain a video that records the incident, you may be able to prove that you stopped at the stop sign. A common situation is when a driver stops relatively early and the officer cannot see the driver stop because the view of the car was temporarily obstructed.

Justifications for Missing a Stop Sign 

Depending on the circumstances, there might have been no way you could have known that a stop sign was present. Or, there might be a situation in which driving through the stop sign might have been prudent. You will want to consult with a traffic ticket attorney about which argument would be the best.

Even if you were exhausted and drove through the stop sign accidentally, you should always fight your ticket. If you're lucky, your case might be dismissed simply because the officer doesn't show up to court.

Share  

Search