Rolling through a stop sign or speeding through a late yellow light may not seem like a big deal, but if you are caught by a traffic officer you could be facing some serious fines and points off your license. Learn more about the failure to stop laws in Missouri with the MRD Lawyers team.

FAILURE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN – TRAFFIC VIOLATION STATUTE

300.270. Stop and yield signs.

Citation: MO Rev Stat § 300.270 (2018)

  1. The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign if required for safety to stop shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, in the event there is no crosswalk, at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway.
  2. Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, in the event there is no crosswalk, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE A TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE – TRAFFIC VIOLATION STATUTE

304.271. Observance of traffic-control devices — presumptions — penalty.

Citation: MO Rev Stat § 304.271 (2018)

  1. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of the law, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in the law.
  2. No provision of the law for which official traffic-control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that official traffic-control devices are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.
  3. Whenever official traffic-control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of the law, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
  4. Any official traffic-control device placed pursuant to the provisions of the law and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this chapter, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
  5. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 304.361, violation of this section is a class C misdemeanor.

304.361. Penalty for violation of sections 304.271 to 304.351.

Citation: MO Rev Stat § 304.361 (2018)

Any person who violates any of the provisions of sections 304.271 to 304.351 is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.

PENALTY OF CONVICTION

If you are convicted for any of the above statutes you can be facing hundreds of dollars in fines and points on your driver’s license. It is incredibly important to reach out to an experienced legal team to defend your rights. Contact the team at MRD Lawyers today to get started.