Shopping Mall Stop Sign

Captain

Captain

Final Approach
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Situation:

Empty mall, car drives past the store front. There are Stop signs every 100' or so but no other motor or foot traffic. Car blows through each and every stop sign without even slowing down. Car is not speeding, is driving a suitable speed, but fails to stop at a single stop sign in the parking area.

Question: What law is broken if any?

I figure the car isn't breaking any law as the stop signs are on private property, however the driver would be in a bad situation with no good answer if they hit a person or property.
 
Captain said:
Situation:

Empty mall, car drives past the store front. There are Stop signs every 100' or so but no other motor or foot traffic. Car blows through each and every stop sign without even slowing down. Car is not speeding, is driving a suitable speed, but fails to stop at a single stop sign in the parking area.

Question: What law is broken if any?

I figure the car isn't breaking any law as the stop signs are on private property, however the driver would be in a bad situation with no good answer if they hit a person or property.
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You are correct. No law broken. Stops signs on private property (at least in Wisconsin) have no legal weight to them. But if you do hit someone, you will be the cash cow for their lawyer's kids college fund.
 
Trespass. You're on their property, you obey their rules, otherwise you are trespassing.
 
JeffDG said:
Trespass. You're on their property, you obey their rules, otherwise you are trespassing.
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Uhhh... I don't think so. Guess that depends on the state. Signs that aren't on public property are not enforceable by law. Maybe civil suits...
 
TTBOMK, they are strictly advisory in Michigan, but I've seen local cops stop people for running them. I doubt a ticket for such would stand up in court.
 
Depends on the state. In California the CVC is enforceable in public access roadways and parking lots even if they are on private property.

Also bear in mind that there may be local ordinances that cover private property and parking lots as well.
 
Norman said:
TTBOMK, they are strictly advisory in Michigan, but I've seen local cops stop people for running them. I doubt a ticket for such would stand up in court.
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Depends on the state. In some places the property owner can enter an LOA with the local police and have them enforce loitering, trespass, traffic and parking.
 
Captain said:
Situation:

Empty mall, car drives past the store front. There are Stop signs every 100' or so but no other motor or foot traffic. Car blows through each and every stop sign without even slowing down. Car is not speeding, is driving a suitable speed, but fails to stop at a single stop sign in the parking area.

Question: What law is broken if any?

I figure the car isn't breaking any law as the stop signs are on private property, however the driver would be in a bad situation with no good answer if they hit a person or property.
Click to expand...

No law, private property. The signs are used as they should be in general society, as a method to establish right of way 'where risk of collision is determined to exist'. Same as boats and planes, no risk of collision, no rule in play. Society just figured that it was another collectable tax.
 
This is a state law issue, and each state has their own version. There is no national regulation related to operating a motor vehicle on private property. There are many states where motor vehicle code (some or all) is extended to parking lots over X spaces or other forms of private property.

Anyone who says simply "yes" or "no" is incorrect. That said, good luck figuring it out in detail. Most motor vehicle codes were written 50 years ago and modified a million times. They barely made sense then and make even less sense now.
 
NJ traffic laws are enforceable on private property. Sad but true.
 
Not about stop signs, but I just noticed your signature. (is it new, or have I been ignoring it?)
the funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it.
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The funnier thing is that this could apply to most of your posts as well.:D
 
JOhnH said:
Not about stop signs, but I just noticed your signature. (is it new, or have I been ignoring it?)
The funnier thing is that this could apply to most of your posts as well.:D
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Updated a few days ago...you're the first to notice (or at least say something)
 
Captain said:
Situation:

Empty mall, car drives past the store front. There are Stop signs every 100' or so but no other motor or foot traffic. Car blows through each and every stop sign without even slowing down. Car is not speeding, is driving a suitable speed, but fails to stop at a single stop sign in the parking area.

Question: What law is broken if any?

I figure the car isn't breaking any law as the stop signs are on private property, however the driver would be in a bad situation with no good answer if they hit a person or property.
Click to expand...

None from my understanding, I blow through those things all the time. Worse case the property manager asks you to leave, which they won't as you come in to buy stuff, or leave with a bunch of shopping bags.
 
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Well, where I work (privately owned company on an industrial park), our janitor used to park in the spot closest to the side door, after hours. Just happened to be one of several handicapped spots. City cop gave her a ticket. This might have been between 5 and 10 years ago by now. Apparently the city ordinance applied in that particular case. So I wouldn't be surprised if, at a properly marked stop line with a properly displayed stop sign, that a ticket could be issued - depending on local ordinances.
 
Handicap spots are different since they're mandated by law.

As for the stop signs in parking lots, I don't stop for them either unless someone is in the crosswalk or approaching. It seems pointless.
 
Mobile Home parks are private property. In most locales local cops will not enforce speed, stop, or parking rules within them.

However, if the landlord has their **** together with the paperwork, a repeat offender will be evicted and be forced to either move or sell their home.
 
Mason said:
Mobile Home parks are private property. In most locales local cops will not enforce speed, stop, or parking rules within them.

However, if the landlord has their **** together with the paperwork, a repeat offender will be evicted and be forced to either move or sell their home.
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Would they have to stop at the stop sign if pulling their home?
 
BTW, this is the sort of topic I'd usually make one of my 'Jerk' threads. I didn't here because they tend to get feisty. Thought I'd at least share my thought process...
 
As I noted earlier here traffic laws are enforceable on parking lots. If you blow through stop signs will the cops enforce it? No. The only time you're going to get a ticket in a parking lot is if you have a fender bender, and you caused it by running a sign or violating some other rule.

Empty parking lot? Training practice for unlicensed drivers and motorcyclists? Cops don't care. Sometimes they will even pitch in and help.
 
Sac Arrow said:
As I noted earlier here traffic laws are enforceable on parking lots. If you blow through stop signs will the cops enforce it? No. The only time you're going to get a ticket in a parking lot is if you have a fender bender, and you caused it by running a sign or violating some other rule.

Empty parking lot? Training practice for unlicensed drivers and motorcyclists? Cops don't care. Sometimes they will even pitch in and help.
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Sadly not around here. Been stopped for practicing slides on snow in empty parking lots. Know of others that have been ticketed for same. Obviously as a middle aged guy in a decent car you are not as guilty as a teenager doing the same. Time to make the donuts:yes:
 
ClimbnSink said:
Sadly not around here. Been stopped for practicing slides on snow in empty parking lots. Know of others that have been ticketed for same. Obviously as a middle aged guy in a decent car you are not as guilty as a teenager doing the same. Time to make the donuts:yes:
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We were all gathered at the shopping mall one snowy night in St Louis having donut contests sliding across a big old parking lot when a cop pulls up. He flips on the lights, floors it, and proceeds to spin out across the parking lot. Some cops still know how to have fun.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Depends on the state. In California the CVC is enforceable in public access roadways and parking lots even if they are on private property.

Also bear in mind that there may be local ordinances that cover private property and parking lots as wel.
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100% incorrect. I spent 12 years in Cali with a CVC book as my bible. Private property is not part of any roadway. (Generally) only a few sections of th VC are enforceable, such as DUI or reckless driving. Movers, equipment, etc are not subject to the VC in this case.

However, like the above poster said, if you make a stroller your hood ornament, you can bet the jury will see that nonregulatory signage and pull the handle on your jackpot.
 
This is a state law issue, and each state has their own version. There is no national regulation related to operating a motor vehicle on private property. There are many states where motor vehicle code (some or all) is extended to parking lots over X spaces or other forms of private property.

Anyone who says simply "yes" or "no" is incorrect.
 
It depends! I took my son for his driver's test at a local mall that was all but abandoned, maybe 10% occupancy.:dunno: The young lady in front of him got in her car with the examiner for her test, her parallel parking wasn't real good, but she got through it. She then proceeded to cruise through 4 stop signs in the parking lot on her way to failing her test! :rofl::rofl:
 
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