Fines assessed for the offense of running a stop sign in Georgia are usually less than $200, while the penalty for obstruction can be a fine of $1,000, or a year in jail, or both.
However, some drivers want to adjudicate the infraction on the side of the road.
A Douglasville woman was pulled over for running a stop sign in Greene County on December 13. After refusing to sign the citation, she was taken to the Morgan County Jail.
Mary Jalisa Westmoreland, 31, has been charged with failure to abide by traffic control devices and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers.
According to incident reports obtained from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Westmoreland was heading east on I-20 and left the interstate at exit 138 (Highway 77) in Siloam. The report said that Deputy Leo Sierra saw her run the stop sign at the top of the exit ramp, slowing down but rolling through the intersection as she turned left.
Sierra initiated a traffic stop on her Honda and explained the traffic citation she was being given.
Westmoreland argued that she had come to a complete stop before making the left-hand turn.
According to reports, Westmoreland then “became very argumentative and stated she would not sign the citation.” Sierra said he explained to Westmoreland that refusal to sign the citation would result in her arrest, but she continued to argue and refused to sign.
Eventually, Westmoreland was ordered multiple times to exit the vehicle and refused.
As a result, Sierra had to remove Westmoreland from the vehicle “with minimal force” and arrest her without further incident.
She was transported to the Morgan County Jail and turned over to jail staff.