No Gray Area Here: STOP Means Stop

An argument is raging in Southern California over the legality, fairness, you name it of the installation of cameras at remote STOP signs and of the issuance of expensive tickets for people who were caught on camera blowing through the signs. In particular, the people who got citations in the mail are complaining that they didn't realize that they were driving through a speed trap and, further, that they had no warnings to prevent subsequent infractions.

Right issue, wrong focus.

The argument that a physical stop by a patrol officer who handed out a citation would have prevented further infractions doesn't hold up when compared to a list of repeat offenders that nearly every law enforcement department could furnish. Also, the argument that drivers didn't know that they were photographed violating traffic laws and so didn't know that they were breaking the law doesn't hold up, either, since the clear presence of a STOP sign is a black-and-white (and red) indicator that a traffic law is there to be obeyed.

But again, that isn't the point. The point is this: A STOP sign means STOP. The octagonal red signs at intersections don't have shades of gray in the wilderness. A STOP sign is absolutely a restriction on forward progress, full stop. Unlike stop lights, which have yellow lights that can be interpreted as "Proceed with caution" but are more likely to be interpreted as "Get through the intersection before the light turns red," STOP signs go straight to red.

STOP signs are absolute. They say what they mean. Drivers should follow instructions.

To argue that a STOP sign doesn't need to be followed because it is at an intersection in a remote area assigns a qualifier to a situation that has no room for qualification. Down that slippery slope lies vast potential for confusion and injury, not to mention future arguments about when and whether the law applies in certain situations. We just don't want to go down that road as a society in any meaningful way. Traffic laws are on the books to protect drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and anyone else who might be using roads. Traffic laws are not intended to be followed discriminately, nor should they be so enforced.

STOP does not mean SLOW AND PROCEED IF NO ONE IS COMING. STOP means STOP. If issuing citations to drivers who break the law in this regard is what it takes to get people to focus on road safety, then that is a price worth paying (and yes, I would be willing to pay a steep fine if I so broke the law).