Traffic Defense · 75 Pa.C.S. § 3323(b)
Stop Sign Tickets in Pennsylvania (75 Pa.C.S. § 3323(b))
A Pennsylvania stop sign ticket under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3323(b) carries 3 points under § 1535 if you are convicted. Paying the ticket is a guilty plea, so the points attach. Many stop-sign cases depend on the officer's line of sight and where the stop line is, which leaves room to contest them.
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What the offense actually is.
Section 3323(b) requires drivers to stop at a stop sign — at the marked stop line, or before the crosswalk, or where the driver can see approaching traffic — and yield before proceeding.
Rolling stops are the most common allegation. The case usually rests entirely on the officer's observation.
What a conviction costs.
Three points is half of the first 6-point threshold under § 1538(a). Points come off at 3 per 12 clean months (§ 1537).
For the full point schedule and suspension thresholds, see the PA license points & suspension guide. If a magisterial district judge has already found you guilty, you have 30 days to file a summary appeal for a new trial at the Court of Common Pleas.
Stop Sign Violation at a glance
75 Pa.C.S. § 3323(b)
- Points
- 3 points (§ 1535(a))
- Fine
- Fine and court costs are listed on the citation
- License suspension
- None set by § 3323(b) itself; points count toward the § 1538 and § 1539 thresholds
- CDL impact
- Not a listed serious violation unless connected with a fatal accident (49 CFR 383.51 Table 2)
- Grading
- Summary offense
How these citations get fought
Defenses that actually move the outcome.
Officer's vantage point
Where the officer was parked, and whether the view was blocked, often decides the case.
Sign or marking problems
A missing, faded or obstructed sign or stop line can be a defense.
You stopped where you could see
The statute allows stopping at the point nearest the intersection with a view of traffic.
Officer's absence
If the officer does not appear, the case may be dismissed.
How the case moves.
- Within 10 days: plead guilty or not guilty (Pa.R.Crim.P. 407). Paying the fine and costs is a guilty plea (Rule 409).
- Not-guilty plea: the magisterial district judge sets a summary trial and notifies you and the officer (Rule 408).
- Before trial: counsel can review the evidence and talk with the officer about the citation.
- After a conviction: you have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the clerk of courts for a new trial in the Court of Common Pleas (Rule 460).
- PennDOT: points are assigned as of the violation date and must be assigned within six months of the conviction (§ 1535(a), (c)).
Likely outcomes.
Every case is different and no result can be promised. Common outcomes include a dismissal when the Commonwealth cannot prove the charge or the officer does not appear, an amendment to a different Vehicle Code section agreed with the officer, a conviction after trial, or a new trial on appeal. Sean P. Quinlan, Esq. reviews your citation and record before advising which path fits.
Other Pennsylvania violations
- Careless Driving
- Following Too Closely
- Improper Passing
- Red Light / Traffic-Control Device Violations
- Aggressive Driving
- Texting While Driving
- Driving Without a License
- School Bus Violation
- Driving Too Fast for Conditions
- Driving Without Insurance
- Improper Lane Change
- Work-Zone Speeding
- CDL Traffic Tickets
- Speeding
- Reckless Driving
Related traffic defense
Where these tickets get written, and who hears them.
PA traffic tickets hub
Every violation page, the pay-or-fight decision tool, and local traffic courts.
PA points calculator
Add up points by violation and see where the 6- and 11-point thresholds hit.
PA points & suspension guide
Point values by violation, the 6- and 11-point thresholds, and how points come off.
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Local citations, MDJs, and enforcement in Lower Paxton Township.
Stop Sign Violation ticket in Hampden Township
Local citations, MDJs, and enforcement in Hampden Township.
Don't pay that ticket yet.
Send the citation to Sean P. Quinlan, Esq. before you plead. Flat fee starting at $550 per citation. Or call (717) 724-7503.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Common questions about stop sign violation citations in Pennsylvania — points, suspensions, and what a summary hearing looks like.
Three points under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1535(a) for § 3323(b).
The statute requires a stop. Whether you stopped is a factual question the officer must prove at a summary trial.
Ten days after the citation is issued, under Pa.R.Crim.P. 407.
Yes. A notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of courts within 30 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 460) for a new trial in the Court of Common Pleas.
It can. Insurers review driving records, and a conviction for a moving violation may affect your premium at renewal. How much depends on your insurer and your record — no one can promise a specific result.
Sometimes. In many Central PA magisterial district courts, the officer and defense counsel can discuss amending a citation to a different Vehicle Code section before the hearing. Whether that is offered depends on the officer, the facts and your record, and it is never guaranteed.
Paying is pleading guilty. Points attach to your PennDOT record, your insurance can rise for years, and some convictions carry a suspension or a CDL disqualification on their own. Many citations can be reduced to a non-point violation or beaten at the summary trial.
At 6 points PennDOT can require a written exam or a departmental hearing under § 1538, and repeat 6-point accumulations bring escalating suspensions. At 11 points a suspension is automatic under § 1539. Under § 1537, three points come off for every 12 consecutive months without a suspension or a point-carrying violation.
Thirty days from the magisterial district judge's decision. A summary appeal goes to the county Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo, meaning the case is heard fresh rather than reviewed for error.
Related pages
Summary appeals — Harrisburg
Appeal an MDJ guilty verdict to Common Pleas. 30-day deadline.
PA points & suspension guide
Point values, 6/11-point thresholds, and how points come off.
Reckless driving (§ 3736)
Automatic 6-month suspension, jail exposure, CDL impact — Adams, York, Cumberland & Dauphin.
DUI defense
When a traffic stop turns into a DUI arrest.
Criminal defense
Reckless driving, fleeing, and related charges.
Areas we serve
Where we appear across Central PA.
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Sources & statutory citations
- [1]75 Pa.C.S. § 3323 — Stop signs and yield signs — duty to stop or yield at a controlled intersection; a common right-of-way citation (confirm exact point count on a certified driving record).
- [2]75 Pa.C.S. § 1535 — Schedule of convictions and points; §1535(e) — automatic 15-day suspension for active work-zone speeding.
- [3]75 Pa.C.S. § 1537 — Removal of points — 3 points come off for every 12 consecutive months without a violation; reaching zero once resets the count.
- [4]75 Pa.C.S. § 1538 — Departmental hearing and sanctions on accumulation of points.
- [5]Pa.R.Crim.P. 407 — Pleas in response to citation — within 10 days after issuance, the defendant must notify the issuing authority of a guilty or not-guilty plea.
- [6]Pa.R.Crim.P. 460 — Summary appeal — notice of appeal filed with the clerk of courts within 30 days after the guilty plea, conviction or other final order.
Statutes are summarized for public reference. Confirm current text at palegis.us. This page is attorney advertising, not legal advice.
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