Trooper Settles Debate Regarding Stop Signs

I hesitate to intercede into discussions between husbands and wives, but I’m going to make an exception for this couple. 

Steve Wood from Southfield, Michigan has a difference of opinion with his wife regarding stopping at stop signs.  In Steve’s scenario he is behind a car which is already stopped at a stop sign and then the car in front of Steve moves on when traffic clears.  

Steve says since he is within 10 feet of the stop sign, has already stopped once and traffic is clear is, he doesn’t have to stop again and can proceed through the intersection.  Steve’s wife says he has to stop again at the intersection.

MCL 257.649(6) is very clear about stopping at stop signs.  “Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, the 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 if there is not a crosswalk shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; or if there is not a crosswalk or a clearly marked stop line, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right of way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on the highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver would be moving across or within the intersection.”

If a police officer were to see Steve fail to stop again when he reached the intersection, Steve could receive a citation for failing to stop at a stop sign. 

Drivers, who think they don’t have to stop when they reach the intersection because they have already stopped once, prior to the intersection, are in error and create a hazard to other drivers.  A driver’s ability to view other cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians is compromised when they fail to stop at a stop sign and honestly check to make sure the roadway is clear before they proceed.   This is a major cause of crashes at intersections.

I live out in the country where I can see my neighbors but we would have to yell to talk to each other.  Last night I had a beautiful dog, a male boxer, come into my yard.  The dog was friendly, very well behaved, healthy and even had a collar on.  Unfortunately the collar had no dog tags. 

My wife would have driven this dog home but we had no owner contact information.  If you own a dog please put a tag on the collar with your name, address, telephone number and the dog’s name. 

By the way, if this dog wanders away again, he is welcome at our home.  But would you teach him to bring the stick back to the guy who throws it.

If you have a questions or comments please email them to askatrooper12@gmail.com, or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police – Brighton Post, 4337 Buno Road, Brighton, MI  48116.