Little-known Queensland stop-sign rule that could cost you $483 fine

A Brisbane motorist fined almost $500 for breaking a little-known road rule has spoken out to warn others. Have your say.

A Brisbane man has issued a warning to other motorists after he was fined for stopping too far from a stop sign.

A Brisbane motorist has been left in shock after he claims he was “unfairly fined” after breaking a little-known road rule.

The man was driving in the southwestern suburb of Oxley when he came to a stop sign.

“I stopped not only before the line, but by nearly a car length (behind the line).”

He said after checking both ways, he drove around the corner only to be stopped by a police officer “who said he hadn’t seen me stop”.

The man was issued with a $483 fine.

“The officer said he’d not seen me stop and asked me where I’d stopped, clearly he wasn’t sure but (he) still issued me a fine,” he said.

“It wasn’t cheap either.”

A Queensland Transport and Main Roads spokesman said when a driver approached a stop sign, they must bring the vehicle to a complete stop “just behind the line”.

A TMR spokesman said a driver must stop just behind the stop line. Picture: Queensland Transport and Main Roads.

However, the spokesman said there was no “specific distance” before a stop line that a motorist must stop as it depends on several factors.

“For example, road layout, obstructions, vehicle size, and visibility,” the spokesman said.

“Drivers must stop as near as possible to the stop line to ensure they have sufficient visibility of the intersection, including to see pedestrians and riders who may be crossing.

“Stopping a long way before the intersection can reduce visibility and be dangerous.

“Enforcement of this rule is a matter for the Queensland Police Service and whether an offence has been committed will depend on the circumstances.”

The driver posted his concern to social media and was met with mixed responses, with many questioning why he stopped so far from the sign.

“If you stopped almost a car length before the line then you wouldn’t have had a clear view of oncoming traffic,” one person said.

“Get a dashcam, it’s the cheapest insurance,” another added

A driving instructor said they taught students to stop just before the line.

“So you’re close to touching the line and your view is clear of traffic coming from both ways.”