Stop Sign Around the Corner

What a day! OK, I pulled into my development from the main rd(had to come to a complete stop due to traffic to turn in here) and was going approx.15mph. Slowed down even further to check out the car in a relatives driveway(!) and then came to a stop at the 4 way sign. Now I AM SURE that I stopped completely, because I had just been to PT for a knee injury and was very aware of any movment or pressure on my right leg. In addition, I saw the sherrif's car sitting down the street about 50 yds(not sure of the distance, so don't hold me to this!), on a streeet perpendicular to the one I was turning right onto, and that his car was parked up on the grass on the side of the road. I stop and then make the right turn and as I pass the side street he was on, he turns on his lights and pulls me over. I was mystified! When I asked him what I had done, he said that "I had not come to a stop and that my brake lights hadn't come on"! Well, how in the world would he know anything about the brake lights on a car that he was down the street-in front of and perpendicular to? There was no way that he could have seen brake lights and I am absolutely positive that I came to a full and complete stop. Of course, I am pleading "not guilty" to this one! Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

Get lots and lots of pictures...try to get an overhead view, I don't know how easy it is to find satelite pictures or pics from helicopters...but I've seen them before and they can really help with proving field of vision. The more pictures from the more angles...the better.

But one thing to remember is...the cop doesn't need to prove he saw brake lights...all he has to do is say you didn't come to a complete stop...so unless you can prove his vision was obstructed and he couldn't see your entire car...you may be screwed.

It sounds like someone in your area has complained about people running the four way stop. Either that or the officer just found a good place to write some easy tickets. You might check around to see if anyone else has received a similar ticket. You can also request the officer's tickets for that day from the department through a FOI request. There is power in numbers.

Basically the other poster is correct. All the officer has to do is to say that you did not completely stop. If you show up on your court date they will usually reduce this to a Section 3111(a) of the
Vehicle Code "Obedience to Traffic Control Devices". This may already be the charge so check your ticket. If so there are no points so it may not be worth the time and effort fighting.