Failure To Yield, Failure To Stop

Traffic signs and rules exist to keep everyone safe. When Tacoma drivers follow stop signs, yield signs, and traffic lights, it prevents crashes, injuries, and confusion on the road. This is why Tacoma law enforcement takes failure to stop and failure to yield very seriously. There have been too many accidents caused by not following these rules. A missed stop sign or failure to let someone go first can lead to serious consequences, especially if someone gets hurt.

However, failure to stop and yield is sometimes not intentional, especially on confusing roads like Pacific Avenue, Sprague Avenue, South 38th Street, or Schuster Parkway. Some road signs are hard to see. Intersections near Hilltop, the Dome District, or around the Tacoma Mall can be downright tricky. You might not even realize you did anything wrong until Tacoma police hand you a citation.

Fortunately, our Tacoma attorneys can help you. We've spent 30 years defending people just like you across Western Washington. If you've been ticketed or charged with failure to stop or yield, call our Pierce County legal team for a free consultation. We know the Tacoma streets, the courts, and how to develop a winning defense.

In Washington State, "failure to yield" and "failure to stop" are traffic violations that can lead to serious consequences, not just a ticket. They carry potential criminal charges and liability if an accident occurs. Here is how the law works:

If you're charged with failure to yield, it usually means you didn't give the right of way under RCW 46.61.190, which states:

"Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety, stop."

Beyond not stopping at a yield sign, Tacoma police will also ticket you for failure to yield if you:

• Do not yield to oncoming traffic when turning left (see also RCW 46.61.185)
• Do not yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk
• Do not yield to emergency vehicles

You’re also legally required to yield if continuing would be unsafe due to an approaching vehicle.

Under RCW 46.61.050, drivers must obey all official traffic control devices and signals, including stop signs and red lights. Failure to stop charges can come from:

• Running a red light or stop sign
• Not stopping at a railroad crossing
• Failing to stop for a school bus that has its stop sign extended (see also RCW 46.61.210)

If you're ticketed for failure to yield or failure to stop, it may seem minor. However, they are moving violations under Washington law, which will go on your driving record and increase your insurance premiums, negatively impact your commercial driver's license (CDL), and potentially keep you from employment. If your actions led to an accident, you could also be looking at civil liability or criminal charges, especially if someone was injured.

Further, Tacoma prosecutors might pursue negligent driving charges if there was a serious accident. Negligent driving is a criminal misdemeanor offense that carries serious penalties under RCW 46.61.500 or RCW 46.61.525.

Under RCW 46.61.190 and other Washington State right-of-way laws, failure to yield is classified as a moving violation, carrying heavy penalties, including:

• Base Fines: Typically around $136, but it can go up depending on the situation. If an accident occurs as a result of failing to yield, the fine increases to $187 or more and may involve civil liability for damages.
• Mark on Your Driving Record: Washington State uses a system where moving violations are tracked by the Department of Licensing (DOL). If convicted, the offense will be listed on your permanent driving record.
• Insurance increase: Your premiums will likely increase if the courts convict you of failure to yield.

If failure to yield leads to injury or a serious crash, you could be cited for negligent driving under RCW 46.61.525, which is a misdemeanor offense that carries fines of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

Failure to stop can carry slightly steeper penalties, especially when public safety is involved. Under RCW 46.61.050, penalties include:

• A base fine of around $136 to $250, depending on the type of violation.

Penalties for failure to stop for a school bus (RCW 46.61.210) include:

• A minimum fine of $500 with no option for reduction or deferral.
• A violation that goes on your driving record.
• An increase in insurance rates.

If your failure to stop causes injury or property damage, it could escalate to Negligent Driving (RCW 46.61.5249) or even Reckless Driving (RCW 46.61.500), both of which are criminal misdemeanors and carry:

• Up to $1,000 in fines
• Up to 90 days in jail
• Possible license suspension

Given the severity of the penalties, it’s important to speak with a skilled Tacoma attorney. Our legal team is standing by at our Pierce County offices to help.

In Tacoma, failure to stop or yield happens more often than you might think, especially in busy areas like 6th Avenue, Pacific Avenue, or around the Tacoma Dome. Places like Hilltop, McKinley, and the Lincoln District have narrow streets, heavy foot traffic, and tricky intersections. It's easy to miss a stop sign on Yakima Avenue or not see a yield sign near the on-ramps to I-705. In South Tacoma, near the mall or along South 56th Street, traffic moves fast, and signs can be blocked by trees or parked cars. Even near Point Defiance or Ruston Way, the mix of tourists, bikes, and cars makes it confusing to know who goes first.

These kinds of mistakes can lead to tickets, accidents, or worse. We've helped drivers who got cited near Stadium High School, the Proctor District, and downtown near UW Tacoma. When signs aren't clear or lights are hard to see, like at intersections near the Port of Tacoma or under the overpasses by Portland Avenue, you might not even realize you've done something wrong. That's where our legal expertise comes in. If you got a ticket in Tacoma for not stopping or yielding, our attorneys know the streets, the neighborhoods, and the courts. Count on us to fight these charges in Tacoma courts to get you a fair outcome.

When you don't stop or yield when you are supposed to, law enforcement will ticket you. The ticket will be called "failure to stop" or "failure to yield." Though it doesn't seem like a big deal, it is. These tickets come with severe penalties, like fines, license suspension, and even jail. But a lawyer can help you. We can protect your record and help you avoid penalties. Call us now for a free consultation.

When you work with our traffic defense attorneys in Tacoma, we take care of everything. Here's what to expect:

1. Get Your Free Consult: Have your ticket and details ready. We'll review everything and explain your options.
2. Be Straightforward: We're on your side. You can tell us exactly what happened so we can build a strong defense.
3. Plan Your Strategy: We'll help you decide whether to contest, mitigate, or defer the ticket.
4. Watch for Deadlines: We'll handle the details, but check your mail so you don't miss a court notice.
5. We Go To Court: In most cases, we can appear for you, so you don't have to go to downtown Tacoma.

Don't wait. The sooner you act, the more legal options you have!

No matter the circumstances behind your failure to stop or yield to an infraction, you should speak with an attorney. These are not simply tickets. In Washington State, they are serious moving violations with big penalties. Our Pierce County driver defense legal team, specializing in failure to stop and failure to yield charges, can help. Call our Tacoma law offices now for your free consultation to get started.