Ticket: You're not allowed to park within 25' of a stop sign in DC?!

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Feb 19, 2001
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15 ft from a hydrant is usually stretched to like 7-8 (compressed) in urban cities. It happens. They don't mark +/- 15 feet from a Hydrant. A 30 foot gap would mean like 2 parking spots (and people would scream in cities for wasting 2 parking spots). No way do I see that in SF. It's usually a mini gap where only a Yaris or Smart Car could fit. And that's all the paint the curb red. I suppose they could technically ticket for not being 15 feet away on both sides, but cops have more important things to look for like curbed wheels on a 2 deg incline. As long as you don't park on the red you're usually ok.

The stop sign rule is a little weirder. Typically they'll paint the curb red or the street will curve by then. But 25 feet sounds pretty far away. 25 feet is a driveway length. I'd say the real-life practice is closer to 15 feet to be honest.

I think that's what the OP is getting at. 25 is quite a ways. As long as it was a straight part of the road and he was at least like 10-15 feet away, I think usually you're ok.

Well, if there's a car less than 25 feet from the stop sign, and you are driving a road you don't normally drive ... the odds are very good that you won't see the stop sign in time to actually stop. Realize that approx 60% of people drive SUVs and the like where the windows are high and you may not be able to see through them, then also a big percentage will have tinted windows that you can't see through ...


Now I realize that most people that blow stop signs are blowing them on purpose, or not paying attention to what they are doing.... But ... I hate it when there's cars so close blocking the view of the stop sign....

Ok if you're riding a lowered S2000 and an escalade riding 22s or something is parked in front of a stop sign yeah you might have visibility issues, but stop signs are usually pretty tall and you can park much closer than 25 feet and still not obstruct the stop sign.
 
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BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,355
1,867
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15 ft from a hydrant is usually stretched to like 7-8 (compressed) in urban cities. It happens. They don't mark +/- 15 feet from a Hydrant. A 30 foot gap would mean like 2 parking spots (and people would scream in cities for wasting 2 parking spots). No way do I see that in SF. It's usually a mini gap where only a Yaris or Smart Car could fit. And that's all the paint the curb red. I suppose they could technically ticket for not being 15 feet away on both sides, but cops have more important things to look for like curbed wheels on a 2 deg incline. As long as you don't park on the red you're usually ok.

The stop sign rule is a little weirder. Typically they'll paint the curb red or the street will curve by then. But 25 feet sounds pretty far away. 25 feet is a driveway length. I'd say the real-life practice is closer to 15 feet to be honest.

I think that's what the OP is getting at. 25 is quite a ways. As long as it was a straight part of the road and he was at least like 10-15 feet away, I think usually you're ok.



Ok if you're riding a lowered S2000 and an escalade riding 22s or something is parked in front of a stop sign yeah you might have visibility issues, but stop signs are usually pretty tall and you can park much closer than 25 feet and still not obstruct the stop sign.

Ehh .. I drive a Forester now, but my last car was a 300M, and often Vans and such would obscure stop signs on side streets or some arterial roads. If you're on a 30 or 35mph road, you really need like 100 feet from the stop sign of open so that you have room to stop IMO.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Question though: is it 25 feet from the actual stop sign? Or 25 feet from the base of the pole? Is the 25 feet measured along the road from the shortest distance (perpendicular) to the pole, or 25 feet directly? If from the stop sign itself, is it the center, bottom, or corner closest to the vehicle. If the latter, is the 25 feet measured to the closest point on the car, or to the ground directly below the most forward point on the car?
 

jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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In Sacramento there are marked parking spaces less than 25 feet from the stop sign. So I guess 25 feet unless otherwise specified?
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
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guess it's a standing rule since i got a ticket.

there was nothing marked on the curb, and no signs that said you couldnt park there.

the exact violation:
p050 stop sign, <25ft from

and in the comments, it said "Ft from stop sign"

I didnt know such a law existed in DC, else i wouldnt have parked there.

and did the person who gave me the ticket screw up? i think he was suppose to list how many feet my car was from the stop sign, but didnt???
A technicality to get out of the $50 ticket?

If you can afford to drive a car in DC, you can pay the ticket out of pocket change.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
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If you can afford to drive a car in DC, you can pay the ticket out of pocket change.

it's the principle. i didnt know. (altho form this thread i should have known from drivers license test???)

plus the person who wrote the ticket left out exactly how many feet i was away from the stop sign!?!
 

TwinsenTacquito

Senior member
Apr 1, 2010
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Why wouldn't it be 5 or 10 feet? When you get to a stop sign, do you look 24 feet behind you for some reason? I'd think most people would just look both ways and go. But apparently we need to make it a law so that nobody that turns and looks 24 feet backwards and sees a car cries.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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Why wouldn't it be 5 or 10 feet? When you get to a stop sign, do you look 24 feet behind you for some reason? I'd think most people would just look both ways and go. But apparently we need to make it a law so that nobody that turns and looks 24 feet backwards and sees a car cries.

It is to be able to see the stop sign in order to stop safely. The distance may also be based on the speed limit for that stretch of road.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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Why wouldn't it be 5 or 10 feet? When you get to a stop sign, do you look 24 feet behind you for some reason? I'd think most people would just look both ways and go. But apparently we need to make it a law so that nobody that turns and looks 24 feet backwards and sees a car cries.

You just insulted people because you lack the critical thinking skills to understand this law. Nice. :thumbsup:
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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Not a law in NYC or I would be broke.

It's a law, but perhaps it is not strictly enforced.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter07-manual.htm

Parking or standing is not allowed:

* In front of a driveway.

* Within 20 feet (6 m) of a crosswalk at an intersection.

* Within 30 feet (10 m) of a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign.


* Within 20 feet (6 m) of a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet (23 m) on the opposite side of the road.

* Along a curb that has been cut down, lowered or constructed for access to the sidewalk.
 

TwinsenTacquito

Senior member
Apr 1, 2010
821
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You just insulted people because you lack the critical thinking skills to understand this law. Nice. :thumbsup:

It all makes sense now! But I didn't insult anyone. :hmm:

Sorry, I drive a car that's lower than my waist. I didn't even think of it.