Is there a time limit for how long you have to stop at a stop sign?

Rock Firestorm

I'm so sick of you people screaming racism when you get a ticket. How about you just broke the law? Ever thought of that?

The rule isn't 3 seconds. It's "a safe stop." Your "friend" didn't stop safely, "she" rolled through the stop sign. I'm guessing you, I mean, um, your "friend" cries racism at everything.

Pat S

No there is no time limit. I have checked the rules and regulations of several states regarding this, and none of them mention anything about any specified time period. The rule is the same in all of them: Come to a complete stop and proceed when safe. And that's it.

Sitting there counting off seconds when no traffic is in sight is a sure way to infuriate other drivers and invite road rage incidents. We need less of that, not more.

Ryan R

As long as your car stops, you're fine. You're not going to find any of this "three-second" or "five-second" nonsense in any law.

Rob K

It's another of those situations where the (unwritten) three second rule gets applied, like approaching a green light and it turns to amber before red - that's about 3 seconds also. If you are less than three seconds from the lights, or stopping might cause someone to run into the back of you, you go on through, otherwise you stop.

I was taught to come to a complete stop at a stop line, Apply the handbrake/parking brake and engage neutral gear. Look both ways and only then proceed if it was safe to do so. I reckon that can take at least three seconds.

There is a distinction between a 'complete stop' at a stop sign and a 'pause' at a give way / yield sign.

The highway code states:

171: You MUST stop behind the line at a junction with a â€˜Stopâ€™ sign and a solid white line across the road. Wait for a safe gap in the traffic before you move off.

However, there is no time limit mentioned.

Turtle 6

The only requirement is --

YOU MUST MAKE A COMPLETE, DISCERNABLE STOP. That only means that the vehicle must cease all motion. There is no "3-second" rule that I know of.

If following the rules makes other drivers angry, then it's their problem.

soilworkoverkill

The more time you give to make sure no one is going to run into you, the better.

Roughly three seconds is good enough for most people. And if you take a little longer (5-10 seconds) no cop is going to complain about that.

Or am I just being racist?

UCANTCME

No rule but...........you should come to a complete stop and make sure it is safe to proceed before entering into the intersection.

Little.Miss.Fall Out Boy

nah there is actually a 3 second rule at stop signs

Rapid Fire

Sorry. 3 seconds is the accepted standard stop time at a stop sign.

A Police Officer does not make up the law to suit the scenario. He`d be fired if he did.

bootitgood for DR DORIS

full stop ... 3 seconds is the rule. a rolling stop where the car is not motionless for 3 seconds doesn't count as a stop.

The wishmaster

You have to wait three seconds at a stop sign.

Texas Underdog

You should remain at a full stop until the sign changes to "GO".
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++...

jakea1943

Florida stop sign on top of a hill I say I stopped then rolled back a few inches then procedded. Dumb cop pulled me over and said I was to stop for 5 seconds and I only stopped for 3. He try to tell me that was the law. I got a ticket. In court I asked to see the law because I could not find it and called the sheriffs office and got no answer. I asked the fool if he saw me roll backward and he said yes. then I had to stop. There is no law. stop look both ways and when it is safe go. I won

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