When it comes to disputing a stop sign ticket in Bakersfield, CA, you often need the assistance of a Bakersfield traffic attorney. However, there are instances where you can handle it on your own without expensive increases to your auto insurance premium.
Always consult one of Bigger & Harman’s Kern County traffic ticket attorneys before deciding to pay the fine or disputing a stop sign ticket.
Disputing a stop sign ticket in Bakersfield, CA, can help protect your driving record and insurance premiums.
Many drivers are unaware of the significant expense associated with this common violation.
Know the Real Cost of a Stop Sign Violation
Today, the fine for a stop sign ticket in California is typically around $238.
However, that doesn’t include the one negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) point that goes on your driving record, which often leads to an insurance increase for full coverage of nearly $850 annually for the next three years. That’s over $2,500 total.
What the Law Says About Stop Signs
Under California law, drivers must come to a full stop at clearly marked stop signs. But that doesn’t mean every ticket is valid.
Officers often rely on their visual judgment from across the intersection or at an angle from your position, which could be obscured or blocked by traffic and can be challenged in court.
Likewise, a stop sign might be blocked by a tree or traffic. Newly positioned stop signs on your regular route to work could be rationalized to a traffic court judge who has the discretion to dismiss – particularly if they are blocked by a parked vehicle or shrubbery.
Maybe you stopped at the crosswalk before the intersection, rolled forward to check traffic, and then proceeded, but the ticketing officer did not see the original stop. By hiring a knowledgeable and experienced traffic attorney, it’s not your word against theirs.
Local Enforcement in Bakersfield
The intersection at Golden State Highway and Snow Road is a busy all-way stop. Since its recent conversion, citations for failing to stop have increased. CHP and local officers often monitor this intersection.
How We Build Your Defense
When disputing a stop sign ticket, we focus on creating reasonable doubt. That’s the legal standard.
It’s not about proving you’re innocent—it’s about showing the officer may not have proven guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
We use strategies like:
Questioning the officer’s vantage point
Citing visual obstructions like buses or trees
Showing that a full stop occurred before the limit line
Emphasizing inconsistent or incomplete officer testimony
Even small inconsistencies can make a big difference. But the number one way to get a stop sign dismissed is to make the LEO jump through more hoops in order to get a conviction. Your odds rise when the case is more than just the officer showing up and testifying.
Why Most Drivers Make Costly Mistakes
Many drivers simply pay the fine without disputing it. That can mean years of higher premiums and one point on your DMV record. This “quick fix” could cost you nearly $3,000 over the three years it will remain on your CA motor vehicle driving record (MVR).
Others try to fight the ticket alone, but don’t know what to say in court or when to ask for dismissal if the officer doesn’t appear.
Your Rights in Court
When disputing a stop sign ticket, remember:
You are “presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
The burden of proof is on the State.
You have the right to face your accuser at trial.
If the ticketing officer does not appear in court, we’ll ask for a dismissal. Many drivers are unaware of how or when to do this.
Why Hiring a Local Traffic Attorney Helps
Stop sign tickets can often be dismissed or reduced when handled properly. We appear regularly in Bakersfield Courthouse and know the judges and procedures.
Contact One of Bigger & Harman’s Bakersfield Traffic Attorneys
If you've received a stop sign ticket in Kern County, contact Bigger & Harman. Remember the full, four-way stop at Golden State Highway and Snow Road.
Our experienced Bakersfield traffic attorneys will review your case, build a defense, and work to reduce or dismiss your ticket. And when it is time for court? Our office is just five minutes away from traffic court.
Don’t risk your insurance and driving record. Let us help you fight back.
Consult Bigger & Harman, the Bakersfield Traffic Attorneys, About Disputing a Stop Sign Ticket
Bigger & Harman can assist you with disputing a stop sign ticket in Bakersfield Courthouse. Get legal advice from these local attorneys at (661) 349-9300 today—se habla Español 349-9755.
Use our convenient online contact form or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section
Q: How much is the fine for a stop sign ticket in California?
A: Typically, around 238 dollars, but the fine is just the tip of the iceberg. Full coverage auto insurance premiums will rise by nearly $850 annually for up to three years with the loss of your“good driver’s discount” of 20%.
Q: Will the ticket automatically increase my insurance?
A: Not automatically, but when you pay the fine without disputing a stop sign ticket, you are admitting guilt, and when your insurer find out at renewal, your premiums will rise 30 to 32%.
Q: What if the officer doesn’t show up in court?
A: When the officer doesn’t show up at trial, we will request dismissal. This is your legal right, but many drivers miss that opportunity. There is no requirement for the officer to show up at the arraignment. An arraignment is when you plead guilty and pay the fine, or plead not guilty and request a trial. When people represent themselves, they rarely have the time to appear twice in court at the expense of work or other important things.
References:
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025.