Chief's Corner
Chief Kathleen Hansen
The Lake Mills Police Department regularly receives calls about drivers not stopping at stop signs prior to making a right hand turn. Although “right turn-no-stop” is a common perception, it is illegal and you can be ticketed for failing to come to a complete stop. S.S. 346.46 which requires vehicles to stop at stop signs reads (1) Except when directed to proceed by a traffic officer or traffic control signal, every operator of a vehicle approaching an official stop sign at an intersection shall cause such vehicle to stop before entering the intersection and shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles which have entered or are approaching the intersection upon a highway which is not controlled by an official stop sign or traffic signal. (2) Stops required by sub(1) shall be made in the following manner: (a) If there is a clearly marked stop line, the operator shall stop the vehicle immediately before crossing such line. (b) If there is no clearly marked stop line, the operator shall stop the vehicle immediately before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. (c) If there is neither a clearly marked stop line nor a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection or if the operator cannot efficiently observe traffic on the intersecting roadway from the stop made at the stop line or crosswalk, the operator shall, before entering the intersection, stop the vehicle at such point as will enable the operator to efficiently observe the traffic on the intersecting roadway.
First offense for this is a $77.20 fine. Is a few seconds of your time worth forfeiting that much money? Please slow down and take the time to come to a complete stop at the stop signs.