I got ticketed by city police for running a stop sign in the parking lot of a mall in Tennessee. Can I be ticketed for failing to obey a traffic sign that is located on private property in Tennessee? TCA §55-8-149 law for requirments for stop signs.

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• I thought you were saying that there has to be a written or oral agreement with the mall owners, that the police can have authority to enforce traffic laws on their private property?
  
  Now, are you saying that isn't true?
  
  What about location? It isn't located at an intersection, therefore, it is not properly placed like the stop signs are on the public streets. As all of those are placed at intersections, and had a traffic study conducted to show they were needed.
  
  I also found this code:
  
  TCA 55-8-102
  
  The provisions of this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title, relating to the operation of vehicles, refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways...
  
  Stop sign code: TCA 55-8-149

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  by jasonsmith on December 3rd, 2006

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• its in the tennessee code annotated, traffic. i will find it and advise, ok?

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  by Anonymous on November 20th, 2006

• Thank you so much John!!

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  by turbowray on November 22nd, 2006

• Have you found the code?

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  by turbowray on November 23rd, 2006

• I still don't see anything in the Tennesse code that allows a private property owner to give the city police the authority to enforce traffic signs on their private property. Though, there are traffic signs that are posted in private parking lots that don't conform to the MUTCD. Example, is my local Wal-Mart has stop signs in the parking lot, but these stop signs also have "YIELD" markings beside them. That is a big no no. What am I supposed to do, stop or yield? View above for a link to a pic. I had to put the link in an answer for it to come out right.

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  by jasonsmith on November 23rd, 2006

• .

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  by jasonsmith on November 23rd, 2006

• I am waiting as well, so you can have your correct answer. See, I'm not to bad lol!

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  by turbowray on November 23rd, 2006

• Well, this is just a piece of the puzzle. If this thing is in the Tennessee Code, it will let me know the exact wording of it. And then I'll need to contact the police station to see if they have a list of private property owners who have requested to have the traffic signs on their property enforced.

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  by jasonsmith on November 24th, 2006

• Why don't you call the police station now, and aske them if they enforce the signs on this property, and then ask them how this can be done? If I were you, I would want answer now. :)~

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  by turbowray on November 24th, 2006

• I've talked to this police station before about doing a U-turn in the street. As a matter of fact, I talked with the chief of police, he said it was illegal. I countered and stated that the TN law just states that it is illegal to do this on the interstate and in the middle of an intersection. I told him since the U-turn did not include these things, then it wasn't illegal. He still said it was. I looked on the net that seemed to back up what I concluded to.
  
  I've learned that lots of people say things like they know it to be true, when they are really just guessing.
  
  I'm going to ask the police station, but do it in a way that I don't back myself in a corner. I'm sure if the police officer doesn't know for sure, he'll just say that it is illegal. So, I'll have to beat around the bush. I'll call and ask if an owner of a private parking lot can be put on a list to have the traffic signs on their property enforced. I'm sure they'll have no idea. This police station has dumb people.

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  by jasonsmith on November 25th, 2006

• You have made good points, but I guess it will boil down to wether the judge will have the same attitude as the officer, and just says it is illegal, and that is that. You could appeal the decision, but that may cost money, if you end up having to get an attorney. I really wish John Pennington would back up his statement, because as hard as you and I have both looked, we can not find it. Pretty frustrating lol!

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  by turbowray on November 25th, 2006

• Yeah, I'd like to know the Tennessee Code John Pennington is referring to. I wish this place had private messaging.

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  by jasonsmith on November 26th, 2006

• Me to, but I can not find it anywhere.

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  by turbowray on November 26th, 2006

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• Thanks, I'll have to check out if number 1 is in affect. Would I ask the property owners, or the city police department if there is a written or oral agreement to enforce traffic laws on their private property? I see no mention of it on their private property signs. I didn't see anything about this in the law. I figure there would have to be a law allowing this?
  

  I guess I'm in the clear regarding number 2 as he didn't cite me for reckless driving. I rolled through the stop sign and no traffic or pedrestrians were around.
  

  I guess I will have to fight the stop sign as it is not compliant with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This is because the stop sign is not being used to assign right of way at an intersection, but more of a speed control device. MUTCD says that stop signs can't be used as a speed control device, and Tennessee goes by the MUTCD, which they have their own supplement.
  

  I'll also have to find out who put the stop sign in, the owner or the city/county/state.
  

  Thanks

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  by jasonsmith on November 16th, 2006

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• There is a sign that says it is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Plus the stop sign doesn't comply with the MUTCD as it is not being used at an intersection, but more of a speed control device, which is illegal.
  
  I'm hoping john pennington of TN replies.

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  by jasonsmith on November 11th, 2006