Stop Sign Ticket Lawyers in Los Angeles County
Our attorneys fight stop sign and failure-to-obey-a-sign tickets in traffic court for drivers across Los Angeles County, the surrounding counties and the rest of California. We review your citation against the law it cites, appear in court for you, and start with a free consultation.
What a Stop Sign Ticket Means
Most stop sign tickets are written under Vehicle Code 22450(a). It requires a driver approaching a stop sign to stop at the limit line, or before the crosswalk if there is no line, or at the entrance to the cross street if there is neither. A sign that requires or bars a turn is enforced under 22101(d), and other regulatory signs under 21461.
Each of these is an infraction (VC 40000.1). A conviction puts a point on your driving record (VC 12810(f)), the DMV discloses it for three years (VC 1808(b)), and insurers can see it.
How Our Attorneys Fight Stop Sign Tickets
We read your citation against the section it cites and check where the officer says the stop should have happened against the limit line or crosswalk at that intersection. California law lets an attorney appear for a driver charged with an infraction (Penal Code 977 and 19.7), so we can handle your court date unless the judge orders you to appear in person. We fight these tickets in courts across Los Angeles County. We also take cases in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties, and anywhere else in California.
Our attorneys have over 45 years of combined experience in fighting traffic tickets. In over 90% of our cases the client has had their case dismissed, been found not guilty, or has had reduced fines and/or charges reduced to no points.
Our Victory List shows 26 cases under Vehicle Code 22450(a) and 11 under 22101(d) listed as dismissed, as of October 8, 2026. The most recent:
| Date | Court | Code section | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/12/25 | Glendale | 22450(a) | Dismissed |
| 6/10/25 | Santa Monica | 22450(a) | Dismissed |
| 6/10/25 | Chatsworth | 22450(a) | Dismissed |
| 6/5/25 | L.A. Metro | 22450(a) | Dismissed |
| 9/20/23 | Van Nuys | 22101(d) | Dismissed |
Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Questions About Stop Sign Tickets
How Many Points Is a Stop Sign Ticket?
One. Vehicle Code 12810(f) gives one point to a traffic conviction involving the safe operation of a vehicle, and a stop sign conviction is one of them. The DMV discloses the conviction for three years (VC 1808(b)). Four points in 12 months, six in 24 or eight in 36 make a driver a presumed negligent operator (VC 12810.5). Read how points and traffic school work on our clean driving record page.
Will a Stop Sign Ticket Raise My Insurance?
Your insurer’s rating plan decides your premium, and the law sets one line it must follow. To qualify for a Good Driver Discount policy, a driver may have no more than one violation point in the previous three years (Insurance Code 1861.025). One stop sign point keeps you inside that line; a second point within three years puts you outside it.
What Counts as a Full Stop?
Vehicle Code 22450(a) sets where the stop must happen: at the limit line if one is marked, otherwise before the crosswalk, otherwise at the entrance to the intersecting road. The section sets the place of the stop and no minimum length of time. Whether a car stopped at that place is a question of fact the court decides from the officer’s account and any other evidence.
Do I Have to Go to Court for a Stop Sign Ticket?
California gives a driver with an infraction more than one way to contest it. An attorney can appear for you (Penal Code 977 and 19.7), and the court must also offer a trial by written declaration, with the bail posted up front and refunded if you are found not guilty (VC 40902). A judge can still order a defendant to appear in person (Penal Code 978.5). In a free consultation we explain how each route works in the court on your citation.
Related
- Red light camera tickets
- Keeping points off your driving record
- Five ways to fight a stop sign ticket
- All the tickets we fight
Fight Your Stop Sign Ticket
A stop sign conviction stays on your DMV record for three years. Call (310) 455-6810 or contact us today for your free consultation.
Sources
California Legislative Information
- 22450(a)(opens in a new tab)
- 22101(d)(opens in a new tab)
- 21461(opens in a new tab)
- VC 40000.1(opens in a new tab)
- VC 12810(f)(opens in a new tab)
- VC 1808(b)(opens in a new tab)
- Penal Code 977(opens in a new tab)
- 19.7(opens in a new tab)
- VC 12810.5(opens in a new tab)
- Insurance Code 1861.025(opens in a new tab)
- VC 40902(opens in a new tab)
- Penal Code 978.5(opens in a new tab)