Are parking lot stop signs enforceable in California?
I can’t find anything online right now, but I have noticed that almost all parking lots have a white sign somewhere near the entrance that says something like “Pursuant to California vehicle code XXXXXXX, traffic laws will be enforced.” Of course, that might just be so they can ticket people who park in handicapped spaces.
If I remember, California law has a provision where a private parking lot owner can post a sign at the entrance stating that the rules of the road apply on the parking lot. If one of those is up, then stop signs are probably enforceable. Even if one of those is not up, your running through a stop sign might be evidence of negligence if you hit someone and get sued.
I don’t know anything about California specifically but I’d think that even if they’re not “enforceable” (that is, a cop couldn’t give you a ticket if s/he saw you run the stop sign), they would probably still be considered advisory or cautionary signs (which would mean, for example, that if you hit someone after disregarding the advice that you should stop here, the accident would be considered your fault).
Can’t speak for Cali but in Florida a cop friend of mine explained that they weren’t enforcable… till you hit someone. So if you roll through that stop at 3am in the Wal-mart lot when nobody is there, fine. You do it and smack into another car you can be cited. That said, Rash makes a good point – maybe it’s not going to stand up in court legally but that doesn’t mean a cop can’t cite you and force you to deal with the problem. Even if it’s dismissed when I show up at court I still have to show up at court.
